LOUISE RENICKS may have been out of the competitive arena for over two years but she admits that she has not forgotten what it’s like to be on the biggest of sporting stages.

The 35-year-old retired from judo in 2015 following a spate of injuries and ventured into the world of coaching but the 35-year-old, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, will compete at the Veterans European Judo Championships at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this weekend. And while she admits that competing at veterans level was never in her plan, now she is on the verge of taking to the mat once again, her competitive instincts are kicking in.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said somewhat tentatively.

“How it came about was that I was chatting to some of the kids I coach about the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because they were too young to remember it and they were saying they’d really like to see me fight.

“So they began trying to persuade me to enter this for fun. And at the same time, my physio kept saying that I should be giving myself a goal and that would test me and let me know how I was physically.”

A discussion with her fellow Commonwealth medallist, Stephanie Inglis, results in Inglis taking on a coaching role and before she knew it, Renicks had entered the competition and had bought 100 tickets for the kids she coaches to come and watch to boot.

And while she admits that as much as the initial motivation behind her entry was all about enjoyment, it has become more and more serious as the event has approached.

“There’s a fun element to it but the closer it’s come, the more serious I’m taking it - it’s just like when I used to compete,” she said.

“It’s not going to be an easy event – you think of Veterans and you think it’ll be easy but it’s really not.

“All these kids I coach will be there watching so that makes me a bit nervous. As much as I’m doing it for fun, deep inside I think everyone wants to come away with a medal but I’m trying to approach it as relaxed as I can. But of course, I’d love to win a medal.”

While Renicks will be in athlete mode this weekend, coaching is now her career, primarily working with her younger sister, Kimberley, who also won gold at Glasgow 2014. And while there can be challenges working so closely with a family member, Renicks believes the set-up between her and her sister is working fantastically well as Kimberley aims for the 2020 Olympic Games.

“I enjoy coaching,” she said.

“And because I know Kimberly inside out, I know how to push her. Sometimes I’m harsher with her than I might be with someone else but things are working well.

“I’m still coaching at grassroots level too and so it can be tough switching between the two.

“But it’s good, it’s great variety and I’m really enjoying it.”