Judo > News & Features

The Japanese still dominate judo. They invented it, after all. But at the Beijing Games, judo champions came from all corners of the globe, including some surprising locations.

China's Tong Wen won a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Athens champion Maki Tsukada to take the women's title, and deny Japan a golden double on the final day of the judo competition.

Mongolia has won it's first Olympic gold medal ever with Tuvshinbayar Naidan's victory over Kazakhstan's Askhat Zhitkeyev in men's 100-kilogram judo.

China's Yang Xiuli flipped her first four opponents then won in an overtime decision over Cuba's Yalennis Castillo to take the gold medal in the women's 78-kilogram division Thursday, her country's second gold in judo.

Mongolia's Tuvshinbayar Naidan was a giant-killer, defeating Athens gold and silver medalists en route to his country's first ever Olympic gold. China's Xiuli Yang won gold on the women's side.

Masae Ueno won Japan's third gold on the judo mats Wednesday, but American Ronda Rousey made history, becoming the first U.S. female judoka to win a medal at the Olympic games by taking bronze.

Athens champion Ayumi Tanimoto won Japan's second Olympic gold Tuesday on the judo mats, and Ole Bischof won Germany its first gold of the tournament in the men's 81-kilogram division.

Athens gold medalist Ayumi Tanimoto overpowered her opponents to give Japan its second judo gold in three days, while Brazilian world champion Tiago Camilot fell to a major upset.

Italy's Giulia Quintavalle won the women's 57kg judo gold at the Beijing Games on Monday, defeating Deborah Gravenstijn of the Netherlands. Elnur Mammadli of Azerbaijan won the men's 73kg gold.

World champion Wang Ki-chun of South Korea earned a slot in the men's lightweight semifinals Monday, and China's Xu Yan upset Japan's Aiko Sato to give the host country its second shot at a women's judo gold.

Masato Uchishiba defended his Olympic gold medal Sunday, pinning Benjamin Darbelet of France just seconds into their final match in the men's 66-kilogram division and giving Japan its first victory in judo at the games.

Athens champs Xian Dongmei and Masato Uchishiba both earned their second consecutive gold medals Sunday in the second day of judo competition at the Beijing Olympics.

Reigning Olympic champion Xian Dongmei of China made it through to the semifinals of the Olympic half-lightweight class Sunday for a chance to defend her title and get China its first judo gold.

Romania's Alina Dumitru won the women's 48-kilogram Olympic judo gold, throwing Cuba's Yanet Bermoy to the mat and stunning world champion Ryoko Tani of Japan in the semifinal.

Japan's success in judo is unparalleled, but as the Olympic draws were announced Thursday, the Japanese face stiff competition from all corners of the globe.

Don't talk to Sayaka Matsumoto about the luck of the draw. The American drew two-time defending Olympic gold medalist, Ryoko Tani, as her first round opponent Thursday.

After becoming the the youngest ever male judoka world champion in 2007, Teddy Riner has taken a liking to Beijing, where people have started calling him "The Great Wall.''

Taraje Williams-Murray will make his second Olympic appearance when he competes in Beijing. Not short on confidence, the Bronx, N.Y., native aims to be the first American to win a judo gold medal at the Games.

These are the athletes nominated to the 2008 U.S. Olympic judo team, named following Trials from the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.  Nominations were announced on June 14.