Judo gold medalist Joshter Andrew focuses on improvement

Joshter Andrew lives and trains in Japan. He has been training in the sport of judo for the last 6 years and is a black belt. Andrew has lived in Japan for the last 2 years and started attending a university in Japan after receiving an Olympic Solidarity Scholarship.

Andrew told KUAM Sports, "I prepared for Pacific Games for like 5 months into it. Just grinding and pushing it with the mindset that I want to medal. So it's good just being out here it's very competitive and there's a lot of competition going on so I was ready for it and just pushing and grinding for it."

Andrew defeated Tahiti's Toanui Lucas in the gold medal match of the Senior Men's U 81kg division. Joshter says the fighters from Tahiti train with competitors from France. He says the match was tough but the training paid off in the end.

"His grips and everything were very tough and went in there and just had fun. I was very calm I think because of all of the competitions that I have been doing so I went in there and showed up. Caught him with a hip bump," Andrew said.

Andrew's competed and represented Guam on the World Circuit in Europe. He has fought in Hungry, Baku, Abu Dabi, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. He brought home a Gold medal in the Juniors Division in Tonga the 2018 Oceania Games and a Bronze for the Seniors Division. He also took a Silver medal for the Juniors Division in Australia along with a Bronze in the Seniors Division.

"On that podium it felt really good. I guess that was my first Gold medal for seniors and I was very happy. All of the hard work and all of the sacrifices I have done paid off. Everything in my head was like, I just can't wait for the coaches and family back home to hear about it I guess. I didn't know after winning that match one of the guys told me that I was the first from Guam to medal Gold. I was like even that you know it like freaked me out," he said.