Article Contributed on: 7/3/2008 2:30:41 PM
Heidi Moore, 32, of Englewood, won her second consecutive Olympic trials in the sport of judo on Saturday, June 14 at the Thomas and Mack area at UNLV. Moore, who competes in the +78kg division, came into the event as the #1 seed. Following a first round bye, Moore defeated
Toni Geiger of Dumont, N.J. by submission in 1:03. In the finals, Moore pinned
Mindy Swanson of Hawaii in the first minute of the match.
Despite Moore's dominance at the trials, the Olympic Games remain a dream. In 2004, Moore won the Olympic trials in San Jose, CA, but, due to the continental allocation system used by the International Judo Federation to control the number of entries into the Games, Moore's division was not qualified for the Games. She faces the same situation this year.
"It's disappointing to win and not be able to go to the Games," says Moore, "but winning the Olympic trials is a great experience. I am sure that I will have the idea in the back of my head that a slot might open up for me until the day the team leaves for Beijing."
Married to three-time Paralympic medalist,
Scott Moore, Moore has been able to attend the Sydney and Athens Games as a spectator and is hoping for a chance to participate this year.
"I would love to be able to walk into the stadium with the rest of the team," says Moore. "That would be the most amazing thing I have ever experienced."
The Moores teach judo to students of all ages at Denver Judo in Denver. Head instructors for the past 10 years, the Denver Judo program has grown to over 75 students from 5 to 65 years old and is fast becoming one of the premier judo programs in Colorado.
"If a slot doesn't open on the team this year, I will focus more on my students," says Moore, who has been practicing and competing in judo for over 20 years. "I am getting old in athlete years, but I will always love judo and want to pass that love along to others."