-by Bill Dunphy
After nearly 20 years of service to her country, Amy Cotton has retired.
She is neither a soldier nor is she a Member of Parliament, but an athlete. But the level of commitment and sacrifice Cotton displayed while representing Canada with honour and distinction on the world stage of judo rivals the most ardent patriot.
The 34-year-old Judique native made the decision to retire following the world championships last August in Brazil.
“I won my first match, lost the next by a single point that I wouldn’t get back with just seconds left, and was out. I knew I was coming home in September.”
That decision ended her 19-year as one of Canada’s elite athletes. Carded in 1995, Cotton went on to represent Canada at two Olympic Games: 2004 in Athens, Greece, and 2012 in London, England; a broken foot in 2008 prevented her from going to Beijing, China.
As well, among all the medals she received at countless provincial, national and international World Cup tournaments, Cotton won a bronze medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. She is a 10-time Canadian championships medallist, winning three gold, four silver and three bronze, dating as far back as 1995.
Most astounding of all is that she accomplished all of that while battling Still’s disease, a chronic form of juvenile arthritis.
“My body totally shut down after London. I couldn’t walk and had to soak for days in the tub. I had given myself a year after that.”
Her goal was to compete at the Commonwealth Games this summer, but with a body in need of rest and a decision by Judo Canada to go with a younger crew, the decision to retire was made easier.
“Starting out, I think the arthritis made me want to push myself harder, to go after it more, to prove wrong the people who had doubts. I wanted it more than they knew,” she said.
“There are some things I miss; I miss the people, the competitiveness, the travel; but looking back at what I achieved and the places I saw, the people I’ve met, I’m good with it. I’m happy and I’m enjoying being home.”
Cotton said she doesn’t regret her career path, though not winning an Olympic medal remains a bit of a sore spot.
She reached the quarterfinals in Athens, and in London she was paired with the reigning world champion in her first match, losing to France’s Audrey Tcheumeo by a single point, again in the final minute.
“It was so close, but a slip of the foot and it was gone. I met her at a World Cup event later that year and beat her. But if you dwell on what you haven’t done then you will never look forward.”
Since coming home, Cotton commissioned noted quilt maker Yvonne MacDonell to take 40 of her judo jackets and design a quilt for her. The result was a beautiful piece of art upon which Cotton’s entire career is depicted, beginning with her membership in the Judique Judo Club in 1986 as a six-year-old.
She said she hopes to be able to help out local judo clubs as time allows, but family and a new career path are her priorities at the moment.
Would she recommend the life she’s lived, which required her to leave home in 1995 for Montreal in order to receive proper funding and instruction, to a young up-and-comer?
“I would do it all over again in a heartbeat,” she said. “If you want something bad enough, it is achievable if you put in the work. But you definitely need the support of your parents (Debbie and Daniel) and family to do it. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“So yes, I’d say go for it. A lot of stuff happens in a lifetime. There are good times and difficult times, but that’s like anything. And there’s not a big pay cheque in it, only the joy and satisfaction I got out if it.”
While visiting with Yvonne MacDonell, she remarked to Amy, “You don’t know how famous you are.”
Amy shook her head at the notion, but Yvonne is right, and our two-time Olympian doesn’t need to know it – but we do. Thanks for everything you gave us, Amy, and may your future be just as successful.