Andre Watson
Andre S. Watson has only been competing in judo for three years. In that time, he has earned medals at both the 2005 IBSA Pan Am Games and the 2005 World Cup. He was introduced to judo while helping with goalball and wrestling at a sports camp for blind youth. He attended a judo clinic at the camp and started training with coach Marc Vink a few months later. After three years of training, Watson competed in his first Paralympic Games in Beijing, China.
Watson became interested in judo because of his experience in wrestling. He said, "Judo gave me an opportunity to reconnect with that side of me that really loved wrestling."
Watson has been studying judo through the auspices of the Blind Sports Organization since September 2004. He entered his first judo tournament in August 2005. He is the first blind athlete to win the Pennsylvania State Judo Championships and is currently a second-class brown belt.
While in high school, Watson wrestled and as a senior was named to the Third Team All-Public Wrestling Team. Watson also received the All-Public High School Sportsman of the Year Award in 1994. He continued to wrestle at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his undergraduate degree in psychology. Watson was also a member of three National Goalball Championship teams and a member of the 2002 U.S. Paralympics Goalball National Team.
Watson received his master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology from Widener University. His hobbies include languages, music, reading and playing chess. He is a board licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in family therapy, aggressive children/adolescents and adult relationship issues. Watson currently works at the Philadelphia Consultation Center where he has a thriving private practice. He lives in Upper Darby, Pa., where he is married to his beautiful wife Katina, who works as a child social worker and counselor.
Major Achievements:
- 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Judo - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2007: Gold medal, Pennsylvania State Judo Championships
- 2005: Silver medal, IBSA Pan Am Games, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 2005: Bronze medal, IBSA Judo World Cup, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- 2002: Champion, USABA National Goalball Championships, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- 2002: Member, U.S. Paralympics Goalball National Team
- 1999: Champion, USABA National Goalball Championships, Colorado Springs, Colo.
