Have a Happy & Healthy New Year! - the Parklander

By Adler Volmer
Judo has changed my life
My Judo career started when I was 13 years old
in a small dojo in Cap-Haitian. I was hooked
from my first lesson. In five short years, I had
qualified for the Olympics by dedicating myself
to training twice a day six days a week. Not only
did my training, discipline and hard work in
Judo yield results but I was able to travel and
explore many other countries and cultures.
Ultimately, I became an excellent example to my
school, community and country.
After competing in the 1996 Olympics and
winning my first match, my original goal for
Judo was realized. I even received the honor of
carrying the Haitian flag into the Olympic
ceremonies. Along with this great honor, I
participated in the 1995 and 1997 World Judo
Tournament in Japan and France respectively.
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My next goal in life was to follow my dad’s
footsteps and serve my country in military
service. During his military career, he
personally drove the President as one of his
duties and was known for his discipline, hard
work and honor. Since I was born in Miami,
my life took a different turn – back to the
USA to join the US Navy.
In the Navy, I served six years as a Petty
Officer as a Hospital Corpsman treating
civilian patients and solders in many areas of
medicine. Additionally, I qualified for the
Navy’s Elite Athlete Program. In January
2003, I knew my conditioning and
competition level was ascending when I
placed 7th place at the Kano Cup in Japan.
However, two short months later, I sustained
a serious knee injury at a training camp in
Poland. Fortunately for me, I had excellent medical and rehabilitation
care. I was back on the mat in four months instead of the twelve
months projected.
However, the road ahead was not going to be easy with limited
opportunities to compete outside of the US. Even with my positive
attitude, it was becoming clear that my chance to make the Olympics
trials in the 100kg category were slim to none. With my coach, we
decided to switch my goal to the 90kg category. By placing second at
the USA National Judo Championship Tournament, I qualified for
the Olympic Trials in the 90 Kg category and placed 3rd for the 2004
Olympic Trials.
Today, as a civilian, I live and work as a certified personal trainer in
Coral Springs, Florida with my wife and three beautiful children. I
train and compete at the North Miami USA Judo National Training
Site. My dedication, discipline and hard work have not changed, I still
work out 5-6 hours a day, 6 days a week conditioning and training for
Judo. However, my resources have changed. Now, I need to travel,
train and compete nationally and internationally to achieve my
Olympic goal for 2008.
As for competition, this summer I medaled gold and silver in several
international tournaments in Columbia, Puerto Rico, Dominican
Republic and the recent Fall Classic and US Open Tournaments in
Texas and Miami respectively. Currently, I rank #1 in both the 100 Kg
and Open categories. Sadly, with all of my success on the mat this
summer, I watched my mother slowly lose her battle to breast cancer.
She introduced me to Judo sixteen years ago and taught me how to
dream big. With her passing, I am even more determined to
accomplish my dream of achieving history by bringing home the
Gold. I am determined and it is my time.