Eric Ham Returns to Competition Two Years After Life-Threatening Spinal Injury
British judoka Eric Ham will make his first competitive appearance in two years this weekend at the Gold Coast Oceania Open, returning from a life-threatening spinal injury that almost ended his judo career.
In December 2023, Eric Ham suffered a serious accident that required emergency spinal fixation surgery, an injury that left doctors questioning whether he would ever walk again, let alone return to the sport he loves.
Eric is a member of Great Britain’s World Class Performance Programme and has represented his country at both European and World Championships during his senior career.
When he steps onto the mat at the Gold Coast Oceania Open this weekend, it will mark far more than his return to competitive judo. It will stand as a testament to resilience, perseverance, and the unbreakable spirit of an athlete determined to return to the sport he loves.
“On Christmas Eve 2023, after celebrating my sister’s birthday with my family, I unfortunately fell off a bridge and dislocated my spine, broke my spine, nearly severed my spinal cord and had emergency fixation surgery on Boxing Day, and ever since then have been rehabbing and just trying to get back to doing judo at some point,” said the -73kg judoka.
Now, almost two years later, Eric will make his competitive return, a remarkable achievement considering the dangers of what could have happened and the life-changing repercussions he narrowly escaped.
“It’s been a long road. I’ve had doctors, physios, specialists, and surgeons all telling me to probably reconsider career choices and look at life after sport, but it just wasn’t for me. I had to keep trying and trying, and it may still not work out, I might still have to call it a day on competitive judo, but without trying, it’s just something I don’t think I could live with.”
For a professional athlete, recovery timelines are usually clear, but for Eric, there was no roadmap. Every small milestone mattered: regaining movement, rebuilding strength, and finding belief again.
“The recovery from this surgery and this injury has been unlike any other. I’ve had my fair share of injuries and surgeries throughout my career, all with the goal of, and a timeline, and a set date that you expect to be back, but this one has been very challenging, obviously with no guarantee of doing judo ever again.”
Throughout his recovery, the support from the British Judo performance staff, medical team, and his loved ones became the foundation of his comeback.
“From just coming in daily to moving my legs, to doing very simple stuff for months on end, in a back brace, it’s been one of the biggest challenges to stay motivated, disciplined, and thankfully with the help of the physio, the sports science team at British Judo, my friends, my family, my partner, they’ve pretty much got me through these last two years.
“Like I said, it’s not a guaranteed return to judo, it’s still a long way to go, but fighting at the Gold Coast Oceania Open, it’s the motivation and the goal that I need to keep moving forward.”
This weekend’s competition in Australia will be Eric’s first since the 2023 European Championships in Kosovo, held just a week before his accident, marking a milestone that transcends medals and results.
“I’m trying to avoid putting any pressure on myself from performing or chasing that medal. I think for me personally, my family and my partner, that it’s more than that.
“It’s the fact that I’m able to step out on that mat again after everything I’ve been through and the close calls I’ve had. It’s the feeling from family and everything we’ve overcome together, is the real reason why I want to get out there and compete again, and they’re coming out to support me, so that’s the real reason. If a medal comes off the end of that, then happy days, but I’m not too bothered if not.
“Some days I feel like I shouldn’t be doing it, and other days I’m buzzing to be out there again. But the feeling of competing just overrides any doubts I might have. I’m super looking forward to getting on that mat again with my family and my partner out there to support me.”
As he prepares for his long-awaited return, Eric’s story stands as a reminder to every athlete that resilience, belief, and the support of those around you can carry you through even the darkest moments.
“I think for the last two years, the support I’ve had from my family, my mum, dad, brothers, sister, my partner, the sports science team here at British Judo, Jacob Eyres, Nigel (Donohue) for keeping me on the programme and supporting me through this whole time — I think without a whole group of people behind me, a lot of things could’ve been different, and without them I wouldn’t be here.”
It’s great to see you back, Eric!
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