BEULAH’S very own Olympian will have all the locals behind her when she takes to the mat in Rio tomorrow.
Natalie Powell is due to take part in the preliminary round of the Olympic Judo competition on Thursday, August 11 at around 3.15pm and her fans back home will be out in force at the Greyhound pub in Builth Wells to cheer her on from over 5,000 miles away.
Natalie, whose sister Kirsty, and mum and dad, Val and Ian are out in Rio supporting the Commonwealth gold medalist got into judo at the age of eight with the help of Irfon Judo Club.
Coach at the club, Richard Jones said: "We have linked up with the Judo Association who have hubs all over the UK to show the fight and we have been chosen as one of the hubs because of Natalie’s link to the area.
"The festivities will be starting around 2pm with Natalie’s first fight starting around 3.15pm. As she is ranked eighth in the world, out of the 32 competing she will get in to the last 16 after her first fight. If she wins then she will go into the evening session to get to the final."
The former Builth Wells High School pupil’s sister Kirsty also competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and tweeted last night from her account @kirsty_pow saying "Finally landed in Rio! #teamNato #Rio2016 #PowellOnTour #welshjudo."
Richard added: "Natalie’s whole family are out there with her but if you want to come along to the Greyhound to support our local girl then please do."
Natalie will also be running a judo session in Builth Wells in a few weeks when she returns from Rio.