Former world judo champion Craig Fallon dies at the age of 36
Britain’s last judo world champion Craig Fallon found dead on a hill in East Shropshire, aged 36 – with cause of death still unconfirmed and no suspicious circumstances
- Craig Fallon has died at the age of 36, with the reason being unconfirmed
- Fallon was the last British judoka to win a world title, doing so in Cairo in 2005
- He won the Commonwealth title in 2002 and finished 7th at the Beijing Olympics
- Fallon, who died on Monday, leaves behind a partner and son
Former world judo champion Craig Fallon has been found dead on a hillside in East Shropshire at the age of 36.
Fallon was the last British judoka to win a world title, doing so in the -60 kilograms class in Cairo in 2005, and is one of only two British men, alongside Neil Adams, to be world and European champion at the same time.
Fallon, who died on Monday, also won the Commonwealth title for England in 2002 and finished seventh at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 before retiring three years later.
He leaves behind a partner and son. The cause of death has not been revealed.
Former world judo champion and Team GB star Craig Fallon has died at the age of 36
Fallon was the last British judoka to win a world title, in the -60kg class in Cairo in 2005
D.O.B – 18 December 1982
Hometown: Ipswich, Suffolk
Career high: World judo champion 2005, Cairo Egypt
Honours
2006 European champion in Tampere, Finland in the -60 kg weight category.
2007 Men’s World Cup winner in the -60 kg, Birmingham.
2012, inducted into the Wolverhampton Sporting Hall of Fame.
2017, appointed head coach of the Federal Judo Association of Vorarlberg, Austria.
2019, appointed Head of Coaching with the Welsh Judo Association.
British Judo performance director Nigel Donohue said in a statement released by the governing body: ‘It is with great shock to hear of the passing of Craig.
‘Firstly, Craig is a son and father, as well as an outstanding Judo fighter of his generation in world Judo.
‘Craig was a fantastic ambassador for British Judo and is our most successful athlete in the modern era of world judo and the most talented judoka that I have ever had the pleasure to watch competing for Great Britain, where he became a European and world champion.
‘He will be greatly missed by his family and the judo world, which has lost a talented athlete and coach.
Craig’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at this very sad time.’
After becoming world champion Fallon won the 2006 European championships in Finland
Following his career in competition Fallon took up coaching and worked in Austria and Wales
Fallon took up coaching following his retirement and, after a spell in Austria, was appointed head coach of the Welsh Judo Association (WJA) in March.
Darren Warner, chief executive of the WJA, said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the recent loss of our head of coaching, Craig Fallon.
‘Our heartfelt sympathies are with his family during this difficult time. He was only with the organisation for a short time but was a joy to work with and will be sorely missed.’
His former coach Fitzroy Davis added: ‘knowing Craig from the age of 15, I can look back on our time working together with fond memories and fun times.
‘At the pinnacle of his career, winning the World Championships in Cairo in 2005, he was one of the true greats of British judo.
Fallon has been named by his former coach as one of the finest ever Judo talents of Britain
‘His dedication to the sport he loved will stay with me forever and I will cherish the time we spent together.
‘Craig will be a huge loss to the sport, but I hope his achievements and his incredible story will inspire future generations to come.’
Fallon coached in Austria for two years before being named head coach of the Welsh Judo Association in March.
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