An Olympic Games medallist from Lancaster has joined forces with his wife to produce a moving book about his incredible life story.
Neil Eckersley, a two-time Olympian, has partnered with illustrator Anita Chamberlain to create 'Judoka in a Parka'.
The book tells, through Neil’s poetic words and Anita’s stunning illustrations, how he overcame struggles with dyslexia as a child to fulfil his dream of competing at the Olympic Games and winning a bronze medal in judo.
Growing up with dyslexia was challenging for Neil. Often feeling misunderstood, he had to work twice as hard to overcome the obstacles it presented.
As a child, he would retreat into his green parka jacket, zipping it up to shield himself from the world.
But instead of letting these difficulties define him, Neil channeled his determination and creativity to forge a path to success.
LISTEN to our interview with Neil Eckersley and Anita Chamberlain
"When I was a kid I used to wear this parka all the time," said Neil.
"My Mum got me one. I even ate my tea in it.
"When I first went to school, I used this parka as protection, at school. Going to school was very scary for me. I used the parka as kind of a shield, from the real world."
Neil also described himself as a "selective mute" who didn't speak until he was four years old.
"People who know me can't believe it!" he said.
"Doctors did all the tests and they said he's either choosing not so speak, or he will speak when he wants to speak.
"I was labelled as a naughty kid, and I stumbled into a judo club during the summer holidays."
Neil became a top judo player while still in his teens, and made the Olympic team for the famous Los Angeles games in 1984, alongside sporting legends such as athletes Daley Thompson, Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, Steve Cram and Tessa Sanderson.
Photo by David Finch.
"The judo team was the most successful ever," he said.
"I can remember going to the opening ceremony, walking behind the Union Jack, and the crowd, the response, they really really liked the British people. There was a massive massive roar when we came out. An incredible experience.
"I was 19, I wasn't expected to win a medal. They pre-selected somebody else before the event, but I kept beating him.
"It's about taking that opportunity. Everybody said I was going for the experience, but I said no, I'm going for a medal."
Neil went on to captain the British judo team at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
"1988 didn't go quite to plan," he said.
"I was bitten by a horse fly four or five days before competing, and I was full of infection. I said to the doctor, just get me on the mat. I managed to win two fights, but lost the third.
"It was a very very strange Olympics. The food was terrible. They boiled everything.
"I remember in the food hall, we had a riot. The British threw food at the French, the French threw food at everybody else, the Russians threw food at the Americans, and we just had this massive riot because the food was terrible. It was just chaos, but done in a really fun way. You had Olympic champions throwing food at the other competitors!
"Within a few days, they flew in some chefs to sort it out!"
Neil went on to coach the British judo team for many years, and also became an artist of great repute, exhibiting his work at recent Olympic Games including Paris 2024.
He and Anita work together on art projects at their home studio in Lancaster.
'Judoka in a Parka' is available HERE.
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