Plympton mum earns GB spot

A Plympton mum has secured a place on the Great Britain Veterans Judo Squad, less than two years after undergoing a total hip replacement.

Kylie Adams, 39, won gold at the British Veterans Judo Championship in Walsall this month, securing her spot on the GB team for the World Championships in Paris this November.

A 3rd-degree black belt and civil servant, Kylie’s achievement comes after a long struggle with chronic hip pain following a judo injury in 2011. “By summer 2023, the pain had become unbearable,” she said. “An X-ray showed my hip was bone-on-bone.”

Facing an NHS waiting list of up to two years, Kylie was referred under the NHS Patient Choice scheme to Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth. She underwent surgery with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Simon Coleridge in December 2023.

“I was discharged the next day,” she said. “Although it’s a private hospital, I was treated as an NHS patient with no cost to me. The care was fantastic.”

By March, Kylie was back on the mat, beginning with jujutsu to build strength and confidence. That autumn, she entered her first post-op competition—and won gold.

“I’ve now won several major titles and secured a place at the World Championships,” she said. “If you believe, anything is possible.”

Her daughter Freya, nearly three, is already showing an interest in the sport. Kylie met her husband, a 5th Dan black belt and former British Champion, through judo.

“Judo is more than fitness—it’s community, confidence and resilience,” she added.

Mr Coleridge praised her recovery: “With the right care and determination, many patients can return to the activities they love.”

Practice Plus Group Hospital, Plymouth is rated 'Good' by the CQC and offers NHS and private treatments. For more information, visit www.practiceplusgroup.com.