Is Miryam Roper preparing a switch to Panama?

Miryam Roper who wasn’t fighting at the Grand Prix in Düsseldorf nor at the German Championships is starting a new adventure. The 34-year old World Championships medallist of 2013 has arrived in Panama where she is likely starting her new judo adventure.

Roper who’s father is from Panama can mean a great deal for the Panama Judo Federation who welcomed her on the airport. Roper who is a double Olympian for Germany and competed four times at World Championships. She won European silver in 2014 and bronze in 2012 and 2015.

Roper reacts from Panama: "I am in Panama to prepare me  in a good, warm environment for the next challenges. The climate should be a boost for my weakened immune system. The winter was very long in Europe and I had a cold since more than 2 months."

Roper would have expected to compete in Düsseldorf but but doesn’t want to comment yet and is awaiting a good timing to tell her story. One of the most eccentric athletes in Germany says: "I am blessed that I have a loving family in Panamá that welcomes me. Thanks to the Panamanian federation I can prepare and train here in good conditions. Of course I will share my experiences with the Judoka in Panamá."

First and foremost a positive focus on Panama where so far very few athlete have any international experience. With the experience of Roper that might chance in the future trying to motivate judo in this small country in the Caribbean. In Panama Athletics and Boxing are popular sports. With Roper Panama can suddenly have an athlete of World level taking medals at Pan American Championships, an opportunity that catches the attention of the media.

Last year Panama hosted a continental cup for juniors and won 14 medals, so there is some medals. Internationally Panama never won a medal at the major judo events in this century. Roper won 22 World Cup medals even excluding the four at Continental or World level.