AN incredible experience is how West Fife’s history-making judoka have described their Commonwealth Youth Games journey.

Fiona Todman and Emma Forrest were two of six Team Scotland judo stars who competed at the Bahamas as the sport made its Games debut.

The Destination Judo Club pair picked up two of three opening day medals for the Scots in Nassau, claiming silver in the girls’ -48kg and -57kg categories respectively.

It set Team Scotland on their way to finishing fourth in the table with 21 medals and the teen stars were thrilled to be part of it.

Fiona (pictured right), 17, said: “I definitely felt confident before the event, because we had been training for months and I had a plan for each fight. That being said, walking onto the mat for the first round is always nerve-wracking no matter how prepared you are.

“My first fight was against Sofia Asvesta of Cyprus. I threw her for a waza-ari early on, so then I just had to stay ahead until the time was up. It wasn’t easy, but I felt fit and was able to dominate the rest of the bout.

“In the second round I faced Jasmine Russel from the Bahamas, who I held down for ippon. This fight had the best atmosphere because the home crowd really got behind her, but I could hear Scottish supporters shouting for me.

“I knew the final would be the hardest because it was against one of my main rivals, England’s Sian Bobrowska. I was gutted to lose it by a strangle.

“Although initially I was disappointed, being one of the first Commonwealth Youth Games medallists for judo felt quite special. Especially when I realised how many people had been supporting me from back home.

“Representing Scotland was an incredible experience, and I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me get there.”

Emma, 16, (main picture) said: “Fighting in the Commonwealth Youth Games was a surreal experience that I’ll never forget. Going in I felt confident I could win a medal, but actually doing it was amazing.

“I was not only the first Scottish athlete to compete in judo, but the first to compete for Scotland in the games, so I felt a bit of pressure to get off to a winning start.

“My first fight was against a girl from India, and she was a very challenging opponent who took me two minutes in to golden score (extra time) where she finally conceded a penalty. It wasn’t the prettiest start, but a good win under my belt.

“Before my semi-final (second fight), Fiona had just won her semi so it really motivated me for my fight and gave me a lot of encouragement.

“I had a girl from the Bahamas which meant I had the crowd against me, but I managed to throw her twice and pin her for 20 seconds. It was an amazing feeling knowing I had made the final but I tried not to get excited as the most important match was still to come.

“In the final I faced an English girl that I have fought on numerous occasions, so I knew it was going to be a really tough match. We have both beaten each other but she has had the edge on me in the most recent fights. It was a really close match that also went into golden score, before she managed to beat me.

“Obviously I was extremely disappointed not to win the gold, but I knew I had performed to the best of my ability so I could not really ask any more of myself.

“Looking back, I am so grateful that I was even given the opportunity to compete, but also that I managed to win a medal. Knowing I had contributed to the team’s medal tally was really special."

“It’s an experience that very few people will ever have and I am so lucky that I was given the opportunity. Everything about the Bahamas was amazing and I would go back in a heartbeat. I’ve made friends for life with some incredible people, and I’m just so grateful I got to take part in such a high level event.

“Knowing we have made history is a feeling you can’t describe, and I hope it inspires younger people to do the same.”