CELEBRATIONS have begun in Thornbury for GB judoka Sally Conway’s emphatic bronze medal at the Rio Olympics.

While the 29-year-old is joined out in Brazil by her mother Di and stepfather Nigel to enjoy the festivities, among those closest to Sally who endured her five round journey from home are her brother, Bruce, and step-brothers Ross and Cameron.

All three watched the final from different places, with Cameron watching from home, Ross watching at his girlfriend’s house and blood delivery driver Bruce having to follow the races whilst in a van on his way to Oxford.

Cameron, 14, said: “I was halfway through my dinner when Sally’s final started. I just couldn’t eat, I was sweating so badly and was on the verge of shaking when she started.

“I was so nervous for her, I knew she would do well but it got a lot more real when she made it to a medal final.

“It was so tense throughout each fight, there so many times something could have gone wrong, but Sally smashed it each time.”

Bruce, a black belt in Judo himself, having started at the same time as Sally going to lessons at Thornbury Leisure Centre, said how despite being ranked 11th, he knew she had every chance of medalling.

He said: “The top girls on a good day can all beat each other, in all honesty it could have gone any way when it came down to it, but Sally now has the experience to know how to dig her way out of a tough spot.

“She said she was feeling good in training over the past few months, she didn’t seem that nervous at all – it was almost like she was just training for any other competition.”

He added: “Sal was young in London, not at her peak, and really just went for the experience. We all knew her focus would be Rio.

“It was always the plan to target these games, but I knew she would do well. I always knew she would be able to do it.

“I am just so happy for her, I know how much it means for her to get that medal. The Olympic medal is the one that every single athlete trains for.

“I was texting her after the fight, so excited and amazed by how she did and she was clearly so happy about what she had accomplished. She was saying she couldn’t stop smiling, but that isn’t surprising as she is the kind of person who is always smiling anyway!

“She wasn’t able to make it to the opening ceremony as she was in the GB holding camp but she is staying for the rest of the games and the closing ceremony.”

When asked what it was like to have an Olympic medallist for a sister, Ross, 19, said: “To be honest it hasn’t sunk in. We know she always does well at the grand slams and other events, but to come away from the Olympics with a bronze medal is something else!

“The support we have had has been incredible. So many people in Thornbury were clearly behind her to win, looking on websites like Facebook to see the amount of people celebrating her win is fantastic.”