Judo Australia coach Ivica Pavlinic has been appointed the Para Program Coach set to lead recruitment, training and development for Australia’s Para Judo team.
Ivica has worked with our Para athletes consistently over the past several years, including assisting them at major international tournaments. As an experienced Cadet National Coach, his familiarity with the high performance system will greatly benefit our Para Judo athletes.
He welcomed the opportunity to take a strategic approach to growing the Para Program, as well as developing a tactical and technical expertise.
“At the moment I’m doing a lot of statistical analysis of past fights to give us a foundation to work from. Seeing which techniques have been most successful, which have been unsuccessful, what we can develop further etc – that’s a priority with the first big events of the season approaching fast.”
Ivica also nominates recruiting new Para Judo players as a priority, as the Australian program needs more representation across a range of different para classifications.
“Obviously, anyone with a visual impairment already doing Judo in clubs is someone I want to speak with, but I’m also interested in visually impaired people in other combat sports, particularly BJJ. Judo offer a Paralympic pathway that BJJ doesn’t.”
Developing both existing players and fresh talent is key to ensuring Australian judo is represented at future Paralympic Games in 2028 and of course, 2032.
Ivica Pavlinic, at left, with Paralympian Taylor Gosens, Para Judo player Jake Fitzpatrick and coach Cliff Illingworth – building towards 2028 and 2032.
