LACHLAN Moorhead is back competing in judo after 18 months out with serious injuries and is hoping to retain his Commonwealth Games title in 2026.
The 25-year-old from Penistone, who won Commonwealth gold in 2022, suffered from a snapped ligament in his hip and an elbow that was fractured and dislocated.
That cost him a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics but – after two operations – he returned late last year, winning the British Championships in December.
Lachlan said: “I had some pretty wild injuries and it took a long time to get those better. It hasn’t been easy but I feel I am back to where I was before.
“I still competed because we’re fighters and we’re tough.
“But there is only so much your body can do before you have to go under the knife. I had two pretty big surgeries and a lot of time off.
“I am only 25 and I am very fortunate to be in the position I am now. I am just excited for what is to come.”
The Commonwealth Games are due to take place in Glasgow in July and August.
“It would be brilliant to defend my title at the Commonwealth Games.
“I am very excited for it.
“I haven’t been officially selected and I need a few more good results to make the team.
“Olympic qualification opens again in the second half of the year so I need to nail some real positive results to get high up the rankings.
“I would like to finish in the top seven at the World Championships (in Azerbaijan in October), obviously a medal would be brilliant but it’s my first one back after such a long time off.”
Lachlan trains full-time at the National Judo Training Centre in the West Midlands.
His long-term goal is the Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles.
“I am going to make sure I get to LA. That’s why I am doing it. I can’t not go to the Olympics again after what happened with Paris.”
