World Judo Tributes to Simon Hicks
“It is so sad to learn of Simon's death.
It was very sudden and we have no words to say.
He has been fighting with his illness and we still think he is.
We all want to think he won this long suffered fight.
We are not yet able to accept his sudden death............
Please accept our condolences to all the family who have lost a loved one.”
Yasuhiro Yamashita
(IJF Education and Coaching Director)
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“I am really very sorry about this terrible news. We all are going to miss Simon a lot - he was a real judo man.”
Juan Barcos
(President of the Spanish Judo Federation)
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“In the short time I have got to know Simon I have learned to respect him so much for what he has done in judo, his expertise and professionalism, his vision in all things concerning judo and how to show it on TV.
To me he has been a great mentor in these fields and I have learned so much from him and owe a huge debt of gratitude to him for helping my own development in these matters so much.
But most of all I got to consider Simon as a true friend and I so much enjoyed our conversations and our time together like in Paris and Santo Domingo last year. His honesty, humour, depth, positivity and tremendous courage always amazed me so much and I enjoyed our time together tremendously.
He has just such a great personality and his battle against cancer and the way he lived with it just fills me with so much awe and respect I cannot properly put it in words.”
Mark Stokmans
(2009 World Championship organiser)
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“His fight was heroic, and he will always remain an inspiration to me, as I'm sure he will to all of you. In many, many ways with all he has done, Simon will live on.”
Nicola Fairbrother
(former World Champion)
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“I really admired Simon's courage and determination. He was an amazing guy. The past 10 months or so I had really got to know him and I'm so glad .He was a very special guy and so inspirational.”
Karina Bryant
(European Champion & multiple World medallist)
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“I have learned of your father's passing with greatest shock and sorrow. His contributions to judo throughout his life-time are a fine memorial to a great man.”
Hirofumi OTSUJI
(All Japan Judo Federation)
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“I was very fond of Simon—he was a very talented, dedicated, strong, honest, smart and good human being. And of course he was passionate and untiring about judo! We and the judo community will remember him for a long long time.”
Lia Hatashita
(American agent)
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“Simon was a wonderful ambassador for the sport of judo. Through him, hundreds if not thousands, of people around the world were given the opportunity to experience our amazing sport through his films. I feel honored to have known Simon and to have shared his thoughts and experiences on the world of judo and his loss will be felt by many people.”
Daniel Lascau
(former World Champion)
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“It was with great sadness that we in the OJU learned of the passing of Simon Hicks.
He was, of course, well known and liked by all members of the OJU Executive, and he will be
sorely missed by all of us.
Simon, through his various publications and videos, has made a tremendous contribution to the
diffusion and understanding of Judo throughout the world. His skills as a cinematographer
brought the excitement and drama of judo to a wide audience, and understanding to those who did
not have a knowledge of the sport.
His work was also of great educational value to judo coaches and athletes.
Simon was one of those rare people who were able to translate their own passion for judo into a
form that could be widely appreciated. He leaves a gap that will be very hard to fill.
The judo community has lost a valuable and esteemed friend. All Simon's friends and colleagues
in the Oceania Judo Union express our sorrow and condolences to his family and close colleagues.
Sincerely,
Clare Hargrave
(OJU President)
John Buckley
(OJU General Secretary)