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1 e e e e e e se e i i i e e i e o e e e ie e e e S e eR o o Oee e Ee e eiee Oe en en en en en neeeeeeee Nee ie en nennee e nererie t 4 â€" .3 0000 * * a k * ¢ "At% 2 " f 5 x . % a r ‘a1 h a a Bs . :. > *~ « & & : We * » â€" ; a 9 t s P * is y * 2 « % F § < s \‘ * \ ; « * j wa t ¢ i % ® 1 < /ok A tw 0 © 3 ki e V PV * a C t A son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Erdman of 177 Regina St. North, Waterloo, Wayne has won national and international â€"acclaim for his judo expertise. His latest international victory was in October; 1975 when he won a gold medal in the light middle weight category at the Pan American Games in Mexico City. A week later, he placed fifth in the world judo competition in Vienna, Austria. By Mary Stupart § ::emwatajwmmh“fi-;l:omlgdfl ~ M ~ anonymity of Canadian athletes when he asked Wayne m;’:f.:;:m?'a“mh‘fwwxx if he was working on his brown belt. As a gold medalist C regional athiete yoâ€" * _ and black belt, Wayne felt disheartened by this reaction. Judo competition has been the passport‘to travel, interâ€" Wayne and teamâ€"mate Rainer Fischer of Waterioo have national friendships and gold medals for 24yearâ€"old ailso experienced difficulty in obtaining practice time Wayne Erdman of Waterioo. a * at loc:l‘gymnuimns Just before the Panâ€"American Games It has also been the source of hours of gruelling training, _ last year, the two judoists had to argue with officials at physical pain, financial sacrifice and months of separation â€" Wilfrid Laurier University to obtain time in the weight As Canadian judoka, Erdman finds satisfaction, frustration It has also been the source of hours of gruelling training, physical pain, financial sacrifice and months of separation from his family and friends. But the young judoka, who is one of five athletes nomâ€" inated as regional athlete of 1975, believes his six years of international competition and training have been worthâ€" while. ~ M Success in his chosen sport has brought him personal satisfaction and numerous friends around the world. ‘"‘I‘ve met, many people through judo. I know people all across Canada and throughout the world. The number one thing you get out of competition, is friends in other countries,"‘ he said recently while training in Toronto. " C GPIFAâ€".sT o4 Wayne began to learn judo in 1965 at John Hatashil?‘s Fitness Centre in Kitchener whenâ€"he was 13 years old. His instructors quickly picked him out as a natural judoka and recommended extra lessons. Wayne climbed steadily through the many levels of judo competence and today holds his thirdâ€"degree black belt and instructor‘s certifiâ€" cate. ~ He began serious jud& competition in 1970 after graduatâ€" ing from high school in Waterloo. His first national sucâ€" cess came in 1970 when he placed third in the Canadian champipqpnships. He followed up this excellent showing with a silver medal at the 1971 Canada Games and national titles in 1971, 1973 and 1975. Wayne also placed third at the North American championships in 1973 and first in the North Americans in 1974. In 1974, he won a goldâ€" medal at the Panama judo competition. « For the past six years, Wayne has devoted his life to judo. He moved to Montreal in 1973 to train with national coach Hiroshi Nakamura, a former world calibre judo competitor. In October, 1974, he was joined by other members of Canada‘s national judo team. For the past yearâ€"andâ€"aâ€"half, the team has trained together up to six hours a day. Wayne has managed to pay only short, flying visits to his home in Waterloo between training sessions and competitions. ( Fullâ€"time, international athletes in Canada have a difâ€" ficult financial row to hoe. Judoists have more trouble obtaining money than most athletes because judo lacks the prestige or acceptance of a team sport. Wayne has experienced little recognition for his gold medal efforts and limited financial support since he started to train fullâ€"time in 1973. . During 1975, Canada‘s judo team lived in Montreal. Rent on the teiam‘s apartment was paid by Judo Canada, but expenses like food, electricity and bus fare had to come from the pockets of the athletes. Because of the arduous judo training program, Wayne was unable to hold down a job. The financial and moral support of his parâ€" ents pulled him through this difficult period. In September, 1975, this financial squeeze eased when Wayne and his team mates started to receive assistance from the Olympic Games fund for their living expenses in Montreal. However, the judoists are worried that government support will be cut off after the Olympics. â€" "If you‘re not wealthy or supported by the government, you might as Wwell give up .. .Everybody expects us to do well at the Olympics. The Canadian public will expect us to perform miracles but we have only been receiving asâ€" sistance since September," said Wayne, with a tinge of cynicism and disappointment in his voice. Even when Wayne comes back to Waterloo for a visit he passes unnoticed and unrecognized on the street. A More disheartening than miserly financial backing is the lack of moral support and recognition the athletes receive from the Canadian public. COMING UP... Watch this space for future announcements of auctions Rummelhart Auction Sales Co. 744â€"9679 578â€"0060 KEN GARVEY Licensed Auctioneer C.img loing Perfect C "It‘s a fulfilling life. I‘d rather be travelling, competâ€" ing and meeting people than tied down to a professional contract,"‘ he recently told his mother. What does the future hold for Wayne? So far, he‘s only looking ahead to the Olympics in Montreal. After that, his amateur career in judo will depend on continued fiâ€" nanical support from the government and the public. In marked contrast to this negative home reception, Wayne and his teamâ€"mates were mobbed by autograph seekers during a trip to Cuba. The Canadian judo team is also weliknown in France. _ World travel is one of the side benefits of international judo competition. In the past six years, Wayne has travelâ€" led to Germany, Switzerland, England, Japan, Russia, Cuba, Mexico and Panama. Along the way, he has picked up numerous trophies and friends, â€" LARGEST DRAPERY SHOWROOM _IN CENTRAL ONTARIO WE SPECIALIZE IN CUSTOM DRAPERIES Just Call 658â€"9025 Our Decorator will drop in and you _ can choose from our Large Stock of Samples â€" Out of Town Call Collect . 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