LONDON, England, United Kingdom — Kayla Harrison made history on Thursday by becoming just the first American (man or woman) to ever win a Gold Medal in Judo at the Olympic Games. She did so by running the gauntlet in an incredibly talented field of judoka in the Women's 78 kg (172 lbs) division.
The only other American women to win an Olympic medal in Judo is current Strikeforce bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey and Harrison's current USA Judo teammate Marti Malloy. Rousey won a bronze medal in 2008 and Malloy won a bronze medal on Monday. In 2008, Harrison traveled to the Olympics in China, as a training partner for Rousey and the two remain close friends.
Harrison, who just turned 22-years-old a month before the Olympics started is a native of Middletown, Ohio, entered her first Olympic Games as favorite to win at 78 kg, after winning the World title in 2010 and taking bronze at the World championship last year. Harrison has been training with USA Judo's national team coach Jimmy Pedro at his school in Wakefield, Massachusetts, since she was 16-years-old. Pedro is a two-time Olympic bronze medalist, former world champion, and 6th degree black belt in Judo.
