Timing is everything in judo - you are defined by when you make your move.
From start to finish, Sally Conway has chiselled out a career on no-one else’s clock.
Twelve years on from her World Championship debut in the Brazilian city, she won her first-ever major medal for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
And with no-one to answer to but herself, Conway retires as No.9 in the world at -70kg, with fewer than 150 days before a potential third Games.
“Years ago I just wanted to know in my heart when the right time was to stop for me,” said the 34-year-old.
"Regardless of how my performances were going and my results, I just wanted to know.
“I feel so lucky that I’ve been able to do it on my own terms and I’ve not been forced out through injury or holding onto something because I don’t know what’s next.
“I feel so happy and grateful that it's come to me quite naturally. I’m really happy with my decision and I can’t wait for what’s next.”
Born into a sporty family in Bristol, Conway first stepped on a mat aged ten. She moved to train at Bisham Abbey aged 16, and to Edinburgh two years later.
When she came to the sport's top table, Conway knew she had to improve her ground work - known as ne-waza, punishing pins on the mat.
What started out as a weakness, even a source of overwhelming anxiety, became one of the most devastating weapons in her arsenal.
And having waited until the age of 29 to wear the Championship medal she always craved, it serves as a metaphor for her entire career.
“I was happy to put the effort in and got through all those disappointing times,” she said.
“I think I learned so much from the times that I lost and times when things weren’t going so well for me, I think that helped me grow as a person and an athlete.
“I think if it hadn’t been for those times, I wouldn’t have had the highs and I wouldn’t be the person and the athlete that I am today.
It was a huge honour to represent Team GB. I felt proud & was always made to feel so special.
— Sally Conway (@sconway70) February 23, 2021
So many amazing moments.
Leading the team out at the European Games whilst waving the huge GB Flag was one of the absolute best.
THANK YOU for all the memories. They will last forever. https://t.co/EiT08h1xiy
“I remember in training, I used to be terrible at ne-waza, absolutely terrible. I remember if a judo session used to start with ne-waza there would be tears in my eyes.
“I used to get held down all the time, strangled, arm locked, but with the help of my coach and everybody holding me down and arm-locking me, I learned to build up a defence.
“And when my defence got better I found my attacking got better. And it was one of my strongest parts about my judo.”
Former team-mate Euan Burton puts it like this: "the ne-waza at times were so devastating you could sense the terror in her opponents."
In Rio, Conway remembers the scalp of London 2012 bronze medallist Gevrise Emane in the quarter-finals as a defining moment.
“I remember one time she gripped up with me, she flipped me on top of her shoulder and just slammed me into the mat. My life flashed before my eyes,” she said.
“But I learned so much from those fights and before the Olympics, when the draw came out in Rio, my coach said to me ‘Everybody in the stadium knows you’re going to lose, the coach knows you’re going to lose, even Emane knows you’re going to lose. But can you win one exchange?’
“And I thought yeah, I can win one. And then can you win the next? And I thought yeah, so when you break it down and just focused on one bit at a time, it helped massively and I just tried to perform as best I could in those exchanges.”
She went on to beat Austrian Bernadette Graf to win Olympic bronze, to which European bronze and world silver have since been added.
When it comes to the future Conway already has eyes on following in the footsteps of Kate Howey, who moved into coaching soon after an incredibly successful international career. But true to form, she won’t be rushed.
“I’m keeping my options open. I'm just going to take a bit of time just to see what it is that I actually want to do,” Conway said.
“But my heart still lies very much with judo, and maybe coaching, it's something I'd be very much interested in.
“I want to pass on my experiences to the younger generation coming through and I think I've got a lot to give hopefully to them, and I'd love to stay in judo. It’s done so much for me so I’d love to give something back.”
Sportsbeat 2021