BENDIGO judo convert Tegan Bubb is a week away from making her competition debut - at no less an event than the Australian championships.
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But before she can hit the mat in Wollongong over the Queen's Birthday weekend, the 24-year-old must qualify by obtaining her green belt.
It has been a rapid rise since Bubb was plucked from obscurity and offered a 12-month judo scholarship as part of the Australian Institute of Sport Draft program last December.
She has gone from knowing nothing about the sport to quickly passing her white, yellow and orange belts as she works towards joining the ranks of the elite.
Bubb trains in Bendigo several times a week under AIS-endorsed judo coach Ben Donegan, makes occasional trips to Melbourne and attends camps in Canberra with fellow draftees.
A devotee of Crossfit, she also completes near-daily sessions in her local gym.
Bubb will contest the women's senior under-78kg and the Q-grade divisions at the nationals titles, her first competitive hit-out.
"I have no idea at all how I will go, but it should be good," she said.
"Some of the others in my scholarship group have done competitions before, but I've been away for uni and haven't been able to."
Bubb is studying physical and outdoor education at La Trobe, and has had to attend camps away from Bendigo.
She said she had settled well into the AIS Sports Draft program and was enjoying learning about judo and life as an athlete.
She hopes to pass her green belt next week, then head to Wollongong on Friday.
In coming months, Bubb plans to spar in competitions in Melbourne, the New South Wales Open and the Victorian titles.
Visit www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au to see AIS footage of Bubb in action.
