BACUP’S Sophie Cox is hoping that London 2012 can help her complete an amazing 24-year journey as the all-round sportswoman bids for gold.

The 30-year-old judo player took up the sport after her dad spotted an advert for a week-long summer course when she was just six – and two years later she was taking part in her first international competition.

“Dad showed me an advert for a course in judo and I said ‘that’s something different, I’ll have a go’,” said Cox.

“A year later my local coaches advised and encouraged me to go to Bacup Judo Club because they thought I had championship potential.

“There I met Brian Moore, a judo legend, and he’s still my coach. He took me to my first international competition when I was eight and I got my black belt at 15 – the youngest possible age allowed.”

Cox has made a habit of breaking with tradition and she was the first female to take to the rugby league field at Wembley when she appeared for Rochdale schools in the curtain-raiser to the 1993 Challenge Cup final.

That appearance led to controversy and widespread media coverage – and also saw a change to the constitution of the English Schools Rugby League to open up the sport to girls as well as boys.

“My primary school had four girls in the eight-player rugby league team and we were Rochdale Under-11 champions,” said Cox “The boys accepted any girl provided they were worth their place. By 11 I was a North of England and North-West judo champion so that also got me a lot of respect.”