Neil ECKERSLEY (GBR)
Olympian Artist – Painting: Beijing 2022
Neil Eckersley represented Great Britain in judo at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988. At the LA Games, he won the bronze medal in the men’s extra-lightweight division (-60kg).
He forayed into painting as a form of therapy to help him deal with the tragic loss of his older brother, and has now been a professional artist for the last 15 years. He also sees painting as a way of dealing with the difficulties of having dyslexia as it allows him to express himself in an open and creative way without the use of words.
His digital artwork is full of life and emotions, and is heavily influenced by the environment in Norway, where he lived for eight years. He now resides in Lancaster, UK where he owns and runs his own art studio. He is also a judo instructor, continuing to give back to his sport. For more information, click here.
ARTISTIC PROJECT
FROZEN IN TIME
BEIJING CALLING
CITY OF ICE
Questions and answers
What does being an Olympian or Paralympian mean to you personally?
To me, it is a dream come true. As a kid, I dreamed about representing my country at the Olympic Games. I saw Neil Adams winning his silver medal at the Moscow 1980 Olympics, and that was a turning point in my life. I remember telling my father, who is one of my biggest supporters, that I was going to the next Olympic Games. My father’s characteristic response was “that’s fantastic Neil, what are you going to do about it?”. Luckily, with hard work and determination I managed to achieve this ambition by competing in Los Angeles 1984, where I won a bronze medal.
What do the Olympic values mean to you?
They mean everything to me. They are my guiding principles whenever I make a decision, both as a coach and as an artist. I use the values especially during difficult and challenging times in my life. The Olympic values have been a source of comfort and support. Being an Olympian, I am always guided by these principles and values, and I use them in everyday life. I feel it is my obligation to be an example for others to follow.
How do you explain to people that the Olympic Games are more than just a sports competition?
Even though I am not religious, the Games feel spiritual to me. I explain to people that the Games are more than a sporting competition. They are a coming together of the whole of humanity, to celebrate participation and achievement.
If you could go back in time and give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Live in the moment, control the controllable and continue to “Dare Mighty Things”.
Are there parallels in your approach to your art and your approach to your sport? Or do you find that the two dimensions bring/brought out totally different sides of your personality?
To me, the approach is totally the same. As a judo athlete, I had a reputation of being open, free thinking and creative. At the same time, I was disciplined, professional and totally dedicated to becoming the best I could possibly be. I have adopted the same principles and mindset in my career as an international artist.
How do you feel about being an Artist-in-Residence for Olympic Agora Beijing?
I am deeply honoured to be part of this amazing project and I feel like I have another opportunity to represent my sport, my nation and fellow Olympians on the Olympic stage. To me it is never about the destination, it is all about the journey.
Meet the artists
Olympian artists at Beijing 2022
