Towards the end of each Olympic Cycle, you'll always see a few great competitors calling it a day. This year we saw several World and Olympic Champions hanging up their judogis.
Greece's Olympic and triple World Champion Ilias Iliadis was one of the favourites in Rio but he was unexpectedly thrown for ippon by little-known Cheng Zhunxao of China in his opening match. Iliadis had said before the Games that this would be his last competition and he ended his career with grace, smiling as he congratulated Cheng for a job well done. Kayla Harrison won her second Olympic gold medal in Rio, making her the most successful American judoka ever. With a World title also under her belt, she has nothing left to prove and has retired on top!
From Japan, World Champion Hiroyuki Akikmoto has retired. He had actually qualified but he also had two compatriots, Riki Nakaya and Shohei Ono, ahead of him. Two female players champs, Yuka Nishida and Haruna Asami, have also retired. Both had done well at the world stage – Nishida has a World gold, silver and bronze while Asami has two golds and two silvers – but neither had ever managed to get into the Olympics. Rio was their last attempt.
From South Korea, Double World Champion Wang and his rival, Olympic and double World Champion Kim Jae-Bum, both retired after failing to get to Rio. They are both looking at coaching a new generation of champions.
Kayla Harrison of the USA decided to retire after winning her second Olympic gold medal. She has signed up to do some MMA commentating and might compete in MMA after a year of training.
Text: Oon Yeoh
Pics: David Finch
Hanging Up
the Judogi
Born in Georgia as Jarji Zviaduari, Ilias Iliadis of Greece became the youngest ever Olympic male judo Champion in 2004 (age 17). He has won three World titles.