Olympic champion Denise opens £1million Walsall judo centre

The facility at the University of Wolverhampton's Walsall campus on Gorway Road features a 1,000 sq ft dojo, a state of the art gymnasium and accommodation for 28 athletes.

It was funded by the university, who donated the former sports hall and a lecture theatre and also paid for renovation works.

Lewis, who bagged gold in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said the new facilities could provide the key to unearthing the region's first Olympic judo champion. "There are so many factors that come into play when it comes to winning a gold medal at the Olympics," she said. "Of course the talent has to be there but you can't get to the top on ability alone.

"You need to be totally dedicated to training and the facilities here will be a massive boost for our talented athletes."

Denise, who was born in West Bromwich and grew up in Wolverhampton, said her own rise to glory came after a change of routine in the wake of her bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. "After Atlanta I knew I had to change things around. I started living and training under the same roof which helped me to have a more professional outlook and got me into a more winning mindset.

"The athletes who use this centre will feel those same benefits. Hopefully one day we will be able to celebrate a British judo gold at the Olympics."

The idea for a centre of excellence was first mooted after the British judo team's disappointing performance at the London Olympics.