By Marios Papaloizou

She might not have been happy with silver in Glasgow, but Charlton judoka Gemma Gibbons  intends to show she is the best in the world at Rio 2016.

Gibbons, who won silver at London 2012, has had a tumultuous time with injuries in recent years – breaking a thumb, an ankle and overcoming shoulder surgery.

Despite this she managed to make an appearance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer where she was edged out in the final by Wales’ Natalie Powell.

It was a disappointing result for Gibbons, but she insists that she is close to putting her injury woes behind her and is ready to set off on the path to Olympic glory yet again.

And the 27-year-old insists that the knowledge Rio might be the last chance to reach the pinnacle of her sport is plenty of motivation.

“I’m heading out to Japan now to do some training and I want to be back competing in January,” said Gibbons, who was speaking at a Get Set to Make a Change event, a programme that looks to keep the spirit of London 2012 alive.

“I wasn’t happy with how I performed at the Commonwealths at all if I’m honest.

“But I know Rio will probably the end for me in terms of competing and so I really want to make a mark there.

“I’ve missed a lot so it’s important for me now to come back and get a run of competition under my belt.

“I think I can be the best in the world and I want to prove that in Rio so that’s my goal now and I’ll do everything I can to make it there.”

Gibbons knows the road back from injury can be long, however she is buoyed by her recent progress and is determined to overcome her frustrations.

“I have been really hampered by injuries since London so it was just great to make it there in once piece,” she added. 

“But it’s just one of those things that come with being involved in sports. You have to take the ups with the downs and I guess the downs make the ups that much better.

“I broke my thumb, my wrist, had shoulder surgery that kept me out for nine months and have recently torn some ligaments.

“So I haven’t had a consistent spell of training and competitions for a long time.

“That’s an incredibly frustrating thing for me because you need to compete and train.

“I guess the fact that I still managed to get silver in Glasgow is something but I never go into any competition looking for second.”

Through GSTMC, the British Olympic Foundation, in conjunction with the British Paralympic Association is using the spirit of the London Games to re-inspire young people across the UK.

The project is being supported by a £2.5m grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Keeping the Spirit of 2012 Alive campaign. http://www.makeachange.org.uk/