Dean Lampkin

Dean Lampkin had a long and successful judo career, representing Australia at international competitions throughout the world.  Dean showed great potential from a young age, winning the State under-65 kilogram class as a 13-year-old, in 1976. From there, his career went from strength to strength.

Dean enjoyed success at the Oceania Judo Union Championships Titles winning gold in New Zealand in 1979; gold and silver in Fiji in 1981; bronze in New Zealand in 1985; and gold in Melbourne, in 1985; and Sydney in 1988. Dean won The Mercury Stars of Sport Award in 1985.

Dean headed to the United Kingdom in 1986, where he won a gold medal in the Northwest Open in Manchester. Dean then headed to Edinburgh and took part in the first judo tournament at the Commonwealth Games, where judo was a demonstration sport.

Judo was an official sport for the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1990. Dean was selected for the Australian team where he won the silver medal in the 95 kilogram class.

In 1987 Dean went to the United States of America to compete in the 5th Pacific Rim Judo Championships.

At Australian National Titles, Dean won a total of eight gold, five silver and five bronze medals. Dean held the Australian National Judo title for three years.

Dean Lampkin is the first male judo player inducted into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.

Photo courtesy the Mercury