Hamilton family dominates at Judo Nationals

Chelsey (15), Alexia (14), Jayde (12), Cynthia (11) and Riley Hamilton (8) all came away with medals in a sport they knew nothing about just two-and-a-half years ago.

Both Cynthia and Jayde won gold medals in their discliplines. Cynthia triumphed in the under-11s, under 36kg class, while Jayde won the under-14s, under 48kg class.

Alexia and Riley both took home silver medals in their divisions. Alexia was second in the under-63kg class and Riley came second in the under-11s, under 36kg bracket.

Impressively, Chelsey took two medals back to Murrumbateman. She was second in the under-18s, under 70kg class and third in the under-21s, under 70kg category.

The Hamilton children adopted the sport of judo completely by accident. Their mother made the decision to go to a cross-fit gym and as it so happened, judo was offered as a sport there. The youngsters took to it immediately, and showed real talent.

Dad Kelly Hamilton is impressed by how much they've achieved already.

"Obviously we are extremely proud of what they have achieved in the last two-and-a-half years of judo," he said.

"It's not like they were born into it or anything ... they've obviously just got the right mental attitude and the strength to be able to win and that's a good thing to see."

The kids train three days a week, but have remained actively involved in a number of other sports like basketball and Australian Rules Football.

The results at Nationals also come just a few weeks after Chelsey, Alexia and Jayde were awarded $500 grants after being hand-picked in the Federal Government's Local Sporting Champions programme.

To top things off Alexia has been invited to attend an Australian judo camp at the Australian Institute of Sport with a senior judo team from all over Australia in July. She'll be there for eight days and will be one of the youngest at the camp.