Aug 2, 2012; London, United Kingdom; Kayla Harrison (USA) celebrates after winning the gold medal in the women
Team USA is putting together an impressive performance at the 2012 London Olympics and American judoka Kayla Harrison reached a new milestone for the country. Competing in the women’s judo -78kg category, Harrison put together a brilliant performance and won the gold medal. It was only the third American women’s medal in judo and the first gold ever for the USA.
Harrison trains under the tutelage of coach Jimmy Pedro, who is a judo legend in the United States.
Before these games, the only women’s medal in judo from the Americans was a bronze medal by Ronda Rousey. Since then, Rousey has gone on to compete in mixed martial arts and is the reigning Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion with a record of 5-0 — all five wins came by way of the go-to judo move juji gatame (armbar).
Hopefully for Harrison, her future will be as bright as Rousey.
