Judo success and the Buchanan family go hand-in-hand.
John and wife Clare, who run Linlithgow-based Sportif, are both Commonwealth Games medallists.
Now the next generation of the Broxburn family are on the medal trail after their three kids – Joe, Lexi and Jude – all scooped gold at the Scottish National Championships in Largs last month.
Joe, 14, and sister Lexi, a year younger, have been there and done it before with nine national titles combined but it was a first gold for 10-year-old Jude to ensure all three Buchanan siblings are the best in the country.
Given their parents’ success on the global stage – Clare won silver for England at Manchester 2002 and John bagged a bronze for Scotland in Glasgow 12 years later – there is perhaps expectation and pressure for the younger generation to shine.
But they proved they can handle it as they claimed top spot on the podium.
Speaking to the Courier, proud mum Clare said: “The events were all age and weight banded. It was Joe’s fifth time being Scottish champion, Lexi’s fourth and Jude’s first, so all three are Scottish champions at the same time. We’re obviously hugely proud of them all.
“John and I are both Commonwealth Games medallists so there is an obvious expectation I guess that comes attached to that.
“We knew going into the championships that all three had a good chance if everything went their way but ,just like with any sport, it’s pretty rare that that happens in judo so it was amazing that everything went as well as possible for all three.”
She added: “Last year, Joe won a silver having won golds in previous years so it’s not guaranteed at all. You can go in with expectations but you still have to perform across the competition.
“It was Jude’s first year in his age band – it jumps every two years – so he was the youngest in his age category.
“We really had no idea how he would get on because it was actually his first event. He hadn’t fought in that age group at all before going to Largs so to win gold was incredible.”
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