The USA Judo and Wrestling Olympic Trials take place June 13-15 and will decide who is added to the short list of 500 or so American Olympians who will have the immense privilege to compete in Beijing. The judo competition will be run on one mat and last two days. The trials will change the life of all those who compete. My coach Rhadi always says “the story of the Olympian and the alternate is the same. They both include struggle, pain, sacrifice and perseverance; only they end a lot differently.” The procedure for athlete seeding and unseating the number one seed has been detailed by USA Judo Inc. and I will simplify it here.

 

First and foremost at the close of the US Nationals on April 12, the so called point race is over. The rankings of each athlete at that point will be their positions in the Trials despite what may take place between competitions. Why is this important? The number one ranked athlete at the close of the Nationals has a distinct advantage in that if he or she loses during the preliminary action in the Trials, they fall into a best of three fight-off that evening with the winner of the Finals. You could call it the ultimate second chance. This means a lot in such a high pressure event.

 

For those of you who have never attended an Olympic Trials event, take this opportunity to experience it firsthand. The atmosphere, pressure, excitement and pure exuberance of the athletes is the closest thing to the Olympics you can experience. Due to the special circumstance, you can expect the unexpected. Some freak things happen at Trials and having a failsafe is priceless. There are a few divisions that the number one athlete is already secure, but there are those who will be decided by their finish at Nationals.

 

Preliminaries-The top eight athletes in every qualified division will be invited to compete in the Olympic Trials. In the event that a player refuses or is unable to compete, the next consecutive player will be bumped up into his position. Divisions that do not qualify for the Games through the Pan American Judo Union will not be invited to the Trials. Athletes with points in one division may not transfer them to another, which makes the point list pretty concrete as far as who will be competing.

 

The elimination brackets will look like this according to the seeding procedure.

 

 

Here are the conditions. Assuming the number one athlete wins his pool, and the Finals, his day is over, and he can bask in light of becoming a one percenter. In the case that the number one athlete loses at any point during the day, he will then wait until after the finals are complete, and fight the winner in a best of three fight off to decide who will be an Olympian. This means that if #1 loses to #4 in the Semi finals, and #4 then loses to #3 in the Finals, #1 will fight #3 in the fight off. Although #1 was unseated by #4, it does not matter. Only the winner of the finals is important. So, number one controls his or her own destiny.

 

The fight-offs will take place after the Finals are complete. The loser of the finals, or of the fight-off will be tagged Olympic alternate. If by some stroke of bad luck the selected athlete and the alternate are unable to compete in the Olympic Games, the preference is then reverted to the highest ranked athlete on the post US Nationals frozen point roster.

 

At the close of the Trials there will be some mandatory training for the Olympic Team, but it has not been scheduled as of yet.

 

 

Olympic Trials Schedule

Friday, June 13

• Men’s Judo: 66 KG, 90 KG, 100 KG, +100 KG
• Women’s Judo: 52 KG, 63 KG and 70 KG
• Preliminaries 10am-2pm
• Finals 5pm-7.30
• U.S. Olympic Team Final Match #1
• Challenge Tournament 3rd Place Matches
• U.S. Olympic Team Final Match # 2
• U.S. Olympic Team Final Match # 3 (If necessary)
• U.S. Olympic Team Final Match #1
• U.S. Olympic Team Final Match #2, 3 and 4 (if necessary)
• Consolation Round #1 (if necessary)
• U.S. Olympic Team Alternate Match (if necessary)

 

Saturday, June 14

• Men’s Judo: 60 KG, 73 KG, 81 KG
• Women’s Judo: 48 KG, 57KG, 78 KG and +78 KG
• Preliminaries 10am-2pm
• Finals 5pm-7.30
• Will follow same schedule.

Retrieved from <http://www.usajudolasvegas.com/schedule.php>

 

Here is an article taken from the Wakefield Observer at http://www.wickedlocal.com/wakefield/sports/x1151561458

Belgian Bronze: Rousey takes third in Judo Tournament

Tue Feb 05, 2008, 07:19 PM EST

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Wakefield - World silver medalist and Wakefield resident Ronda Rousey won a bronze medal in the 70kg division on Sunday at the Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level Point Judo Tournament in Arlon, Colorado, Feb. 3.

In a unique format, players had to place in the top two of a three or four-person pool in order to advance to the main draw.  Unlike in most international events, a loss in the draw means that the loser only gets carried through to the repecharge if the player she loses to advances to the final. 

A member of USA Judo National Team FORCE, Rousey, who turned 21 on Friday, fought Samantha Lowe (GBR) in the first round, pinning Lowe for ippon (instant win).  Rousey and the 2007 Belgian Ladies’ Champion Haruka Tachimoto (JPN) fought next, tying the match at the end of the five-minute period.  Due to the tournament format, the match did not go into overtime, but since Tachimoto and Rousey both beat Lowe by ippon, the two had to fight a second match to determine seeding in the main draw.  This time, Tachimoto threw Rousey with an o soto gari (major outer leg throw).

In the main draw, Rousey fought 2006 Pan Am Champion Yalennis Castillo (CUB).  Rousey won their last match at the 2007 Vienna World Cup, but this time Rousey went in for a sumi gaeshi (sacrifice throw), but the score was called as a yuko (quarter-point) for the Cuban.  Rousey came back later in the match, but lost by a koka. 

Castillo advanced to the final, pulling Rousey through to the repecharge where she threw Aya Taniguchi (JPN) with a drop o uchi gari (dropping inner leg throw) for ippon.  Rousey threw 2007 European U20 Champion Linda Bolder (NED) three times to advance to the bronze medal against Gemma Gibbons (GBR).  Rousey and Gibbons fought most recently at the U.S. Open in October where Rousey earned her third consecutive gold medal.  Rousey dominated the match again, armbarring Gibbons to win the bronze medal.

Two years ago, Rousey became the first U.S. player ever to win the prestigious Belgian Ladies’ Open, a B-Level point tournament in Arlon. Last year, Valerie Gotay of Texas repeated the feat when she upset a former World Champion in the final.

Rousey has since moved up from 63kg to 70kg where she won a World silver medal in September. Both players were among the favorites for a medal as 21 U.S. women competed at the Belgian Ladies’ Open.

Rousey became the first U.S. player to win the Belgian Ladies Open in 2006 when she won the 63kg division. The reigning World silver medalist as a 70kg player, Rousey renewed acquaintance with some old rivals including 2006 Pan Am Champion Ylennis Castillo (CUB), who placed seventh at the World Championships, but lost her only match against Rousey when they fought at the 2007 Vienna World Cup where Rousey won her first gold medal in the new division.

Harrison adds hustle

In the 78kg division, Wakefield resident Kayla Harrison advanced to the draw, but lost in the first round to Pauline Camus (FRA).

A junior competitors, Harrison, 17, became the first U.S. player to win a U20 gold medal in Belgium when she competed in the 70kg division last year. This time around, Harrison made her 78kg debut in an attempt to match her 2007 accomplishment.

Harrison won the U20 70kg division in 2007 before moving back down to 63kg where she won the U.S. Open and placed second at the Senior Nationals. This marked the first time Harrison competed in her first event as a 78kg player fighting in both the junior and senior division.

Congratulations go out to Ronda. This is a tough tournament with lots of competitors and it is a good way for her to start the year.  Ronda is still recovering from a knee injury so you can only look forward to her performances improving.

This was Kayla Harrison’s first competition at her new weight.  She now has a taste of where she needs to be to compete internationally.

This is just the beginning of the European tour. The US team goes into arguably the toughest competition of the tour in Paris this weekend.  It will be interesting to see where everyone finishes. This is one of the stronger female teams we have had in quite some time.  I expect to see two or three top seven finishes.

Here are the results of the Men’s Tblisi World Cup, held in Tblisi, Georgia this past weekend.  USA had two competitors in R.J. and Aaron Cohen who both were unable to post wins.  It is obvious that as expected, this year is going to be tough on the European tour.  The 66kg division appeared to be the toughest as the draws had a plethora of past World medalist.

 

Men’s 60kg

1. James Millar (GBR)

2. Pavel Petrikov (CZE)

3. Lavrentis Alexanidis (GRE)

3. Albertas Techovas (LTU)

5. Yung Gascard (BEL)

5. Hovhannes Davtyan (ARM)
7. Evgeniy Kudykov (RUS)

7. Jeroen Mooren (NED)

Men’s 66kg

1. Zaza Kedelashvili (GEO)

2. Benjamin Darbelet (FRA)

3. Ramid Gasimov (AZE)

3. Mikhail Pulyaev (RUS)

5. Sebastien Berthelot (FRA)

5. Volodymyr Soroka (UKR)

7. Sandro Iakobashvili (GEO)

7. Andrea Mitterfellner (AUT)

Men’s 73kg

1. Aliksandr Stsiashenka (BLR)
2. Yoel Razvozov (ISR)

3. Davit Kuprashvili (GEO)

3. Marco Maddaloni (ITA)

5. Ilya Kokovich (RUS)
5. Michaell Remilien (FRA)

7. Koen Sleeckx(BEL)

7. Daniel Fernandes (FRA)

Also Competed: RJ Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / Cohen’s Judo), 0-1

 

Men’s 81kg

1. Sirazhudin Magomedov (RUS)

2. Joao Neto (POR)

3. Alibek Bashkaev (RUS)

3. Ole Bischof (GER)

5.Grigori Baindurashvili (GEO)

5. Diogo Lima (POR)

7. Alexandru Gaina (MDA)

7. Grigol Shindjikashvili (GEO)

Also Competed: Aaron Cohen (Buffalo Grove, Ill. / NYAC / Cohen’s Judo), 0-1

 

Men’s 90kg

1. Zurab Zviadauri (GEO)

2. Irakli Tsirekidze (GEO)

3. Varlam Liparteliani (GEO)
3. Elkhan Mammadov (AZE)

5. Seigo Saito (JPN)

5. Jevgenijs Borodavko (LAT)

7. Sergei Aschwanden (SUI)

7. Hakob Arakelyan (ARM)

Men’s 100kg

1. Levani Zhorzholiani (GEO)

2. Ilias Iliadis (GRE)

3. Henk Grol (NED)

3. Moulud Miraliev (AZE)

5. Michael Jurack (GER)

5. Elco Van Der Geest (NED)

7. Levan Razmadze (GEO)

7. Scott Edwards (CAN)

Men’s +100kg

1. Yohei Takai (JPN)

2. Janusz Wojnarowicz (POL)

3. Maxim Bryanov (RUS)

3. Adam Okruashvili (GEO)

5. Andreas Toelzer (GER)

5. Lasha Gujejiani (GEO)

7. Zviad Khanjalishvili (GEO)

7. Angel Parra (ESP)

 

The shocker of the tournament has to be Iliadis of GRE fighting -100kg AND placing second.  It is rumored that he is merely attempting to qualify the division for his country.  Iliadis is looking to go down in the books as one of the best pound for pound ever. He has ascended from 73kg in 2003 where he won the under 23 European Championships and placed 5th in Tblisi, won Olympic Gold in 2004 at -81kg, two World Silver Medals at -90kg, the 2006 U23 European Championships at -100kg, then winning the Kano Cup at -90kg and placing second in Tblisi at -100kg within two months. That’s the short list, but still pretty impressive. Oh, btw, he is only 21.

January signifies the back end of the Olympic point race leading into the 2008 Nationals. Some folks are scattering to maintain and or recover their number one ranking because of the advantage it holds in the Olympic Trials. The number one competitor entering the Olympic Trials only has to win the eight man pool during the day. Assuming their weight division is qualified in the Pan American region, they are at that point considered Olympians. If the number one competitor loses at any point during the day, they are then forced into a best of three match fight-off to decide the winner. The point position at the close of the 2008 Nationals will decide the ranking of the competitors in the Trials. For most of the men, the last real hope to grab points is the NYAC NY Open, March 9th, which is a C-Level event for Americans. For the women, whom fair better in International competition, the European tour provides a huge opportunity to make some gains or increase their lead. Below is the list of competition selections for males and females.

Most likely to attain medals:

Females

Ronda Rousey and Valerie Gotay

Males

Ryan Reser and Taraje Williams-Murray

Women’s Europen Tour Schedule

		48kg	52kg	57kg	63kg	70kg	78kg
Sofia World Cup (A) - Bulgaria	Jan. 26-27	-	-	-		-	Katie Mocco
Paris Super World Cup (A+) - France	Feb. 9-10		-	Valerie Gotay	Marti Malloy	Ronda Rousey	Nina Cutro-Kelly
Budapest World Cup (A) - Hungary	Feb. 16-17		Anna Palmer	Valerie Gotay	Marti Malloy	Ronda Rousey	Katie Mocco
Hamburg Super World Cup (A+) - Germany	Feb. 22-24	-	Anna Palmer	Janine Nakao		-	Nina Cutro-Kelly
Warsaw World Cup (A) - Poland	March 1-2	Sayaka Matsumoto	Anna Palmer	-	Emily Lilly	-	Nikki Kubes
Rome World Cup (A)- Italy	May 17-18	Angela Cretuzberger	Nicki Schultheis	Carrie Chandler	-	-	Katie Mocco

Men’s Europen Tour Schedule

		60kg	66kg	73kg	81kg	90kg	100kg	+100kg
Tblissi World Cup (A) - Georgia	Jan. 26-27	-	-	-	Aaron Cohen	-		-
Paris Super World Cup (A+) - France	Feb. 9-10	Aaron Kunihiro	Kenny Hashimoto	Michael Eldred	Travis Stevens	Rick Hawn	Adler Volmar	Daniel McCormick
Vienna World Cup (A) - Austria	Feb. 16-17	Taraje Williams-Murray	Taylor Takata	Ryan Reser	Travis Stevens	Rick Hawn	Adler Volmar	Anthony Turner
Prague World Cup (A) - Czech Republic	March 1-2	Josh O’Neil	Taylor Takata	Ryan Reser		Garry St. Leger	Shintaro Higashi	-
Oslo World Cup (A)- Norway	May 17-18	Nick Kossor	Jeremy Liggett	Nick Delpopolo	Travis Stevens	Brian Olson	Adler Volmar	-

Tour Schedule Retrieved from USAJudo.org