Ryley Rametta
Judo
Age : 23
Gender : Female
This athlete is actively pursuing their high performance goals and striving for future success on the international stage.
How does the VIS support your career in high performance sport?
The amazing staff at VIS have seen me through multiple injuries, including an ACL rehab and currently rehabbing two separate shoulder reconstructions. They have all played a huge part in keeping me fit, strong and motivated to getting back into judo.
Most memorable sporting moment?
Placing second at the Junior Pan-American Oceania Championships was my favourite moment in judo. It was my first continental championship medal.
Proudest personal achievement outside of sport?
Alongside my athlete career I have also been coaching kids in judo. Seeing the kids progress through each grade and achieving goals in competition makes me really proud.
What do you enjoy most about your sport?
I love being part of a team that lifts each other up.
Judo is a hard sport and having teammates that are there to push you every day makes it so much easier. Also, the feeling of nailing a throw in a competition is incomparable.
Advice to your younger self?
Listen to those who have been there and done it. You don't always have to learn the hard way.
Go-to meal before competing?
Big bowl of pasta bolognaise plus a choccy milk.
If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be?
Snoop Dog, Adam Sandler and Rihanna.
What do you enjoy doing outside of sport?
I love camping, 4-wheel driving and going to the beach (in a wetsuit because I get burnt too easily).
Speaker Profile
Ryley started judo when she was 10 years old and started competing about 6 months after that. It took her 9 years to achieve her black belt, getting it when she was 19.
Ryley has made multiple Australian teams across Cadets (U18), Juniors (U21) and seniors, since 2019 and has travelled to Europe, Asia, North and South America to compete. Her biggest achievements of these being placing 2nd at the Pan-America Oceania Junior (U21) championships in 2023 and then going on to Junior (U21) World Championships 4 weeks later.
Talking Points
- Sport explainer: What judo is, what it involves and what the rules are.
- Injury: Ryley has been through multiple injuries, including an ACL rupture, ligament damage in her elbow (near dislocation), and a shoulder reconstruction (after multiple dislocations), spending a total of nearly a year and a half off the mat.
- Balance: While she was still at school, Ryley worked at McDonald’s 1–2 times per week around her training and school commitments. After graduating high school, she worked at Kmart for a year. Now, Ryley juggles her studies alongside training, working as a VIS receptionist and coaching.
Themes
- Understanding Judo
- Resilience and overcoming injury
- Perseverance and returning to sport
- Balance and time management
- Work ethic and commitment
