Click above for the complete USA Judo Adopt An Athlete brochure.
| Meet the Athletes... |
 Carrie Chandler (52kg)
Date of Birth: 7/12/1981
Residence: Glenville, N.Y.
One of the top female judo players in the United States, Chandler broke through in 2005 with her first European medal and a trip to the World Championships. Chandler has followed up with top finishes at the start of this year... More
| Photo by Lou Digesare/ Real Judo |
On Chandler
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Aaron Cohen (81kg)
Date of Birth: 9/28/1981
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, Ill.
Cohen, a five-time Pan Am medalist, is a two-time World Team member. The son and nephew of Olympic judo players, Cohen earned his first European medal in April at the Swiss Open... More On Cohen
| Photo by Lou Digesare/ Real Judo |
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 Justin Flores (66kg)
Date of Birth: 12/5/1979
Hometown: Menlo Park, Calif.
A former University of Nebraska wrestler, Flores continues to have success on the judo mat, being named as an alternate to the 2004 Olympic Team and competing at the 2005 and 2007 World Championships... More On Flores |
 Valerie Gotay (57kg)
Date of Birth: 11/5/1973
Hometown: Temecula, Calif.
Look for Gotay to be one of the biggest comeback stories leading into 2008. A '92 Olympian who retired after the Barcelona Games, Gotay won four international titles during a six month span between 2006 and 2007 and is a two-time Pan American Champion... More On Gotay |
 Kayla Harrison (70kg)
Date of Birth: 7/2/1990
Hometown: Middletown, Ohio
At only 16-years-old, harrison won the 2006 Senior Nationals in an upset at her first major competition since moving up to 70kg. Currently the #1-ranked athlete in the division... More On Harrison |
 Kenny Hashimoto (66kg)
Date of Birth: 7/7/1986
Hometown: Thornton, Colo.
After several years of being one of the top-ranked juniors in the country, Hashimoto has steadily climbed the senior rankings with bronze medal finishes at the 2005 Nationals and U.S. Open... More On Hashimoto |
 Kirk Hoffmann (+100kg)
Date of Birth: 11/13/1983
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla.
The top-ranked heavyweight in the United States, this former standout football player earned bronze at the '05 and '07 Pan Ams and has competed on two World Teams... More On Hoffmann |
 Marti Malloy (63kg)
Date of Birth: 6/23/1986
Current Residence: San Jose, Calif.
A former Junior World Team member and journalism major at San Jose State, Malloy had the second-best finish for an American at the Worlds in Rio, placing ninth at her first Senior World Championships... More on Malloy |
 Sayaka Matsumoto (48kg)
Date of Birth: 12/5/1982
Hometown: El Cerrito, Calif.
Matsumoto's love for judo has driven her to seven national titles as well as a Junior World Championship silver medal and competition on three
consecutive World Teams by
| Photo by Lou Digesare/ Real Judo |
the young age of 22... More On Matsumoto |
 Katie Mocco (78kg)
Date of Birth: 11/19/1983
Hometown: Scotia, N.Y.
“Becoming an athlete changed my life in so many ways. Through judo I learned the value of hard work, focus and dedication, for which I am forever grateful." Mocco came one step closer to her Olympic dream in 2005, winning the U.S. Open and competing on her first World Championship
| Photo by Lou Digesare/ Real Judo |
Team...
More On Mocco |
 Ryan Reser (73kg)
Date of Birth: 4/16/1980
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
An alternate to the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Teams behind Jimmy Pedro, Ryan dominated his division in 2005, competing at the World Championships and winning the National Championships, Pan Ams and Pacific Rims... More On Reser |
 Ronda Rousey (70kg)
Date of Birth: 2/1/1987
Hometown: Santa Monica, Calif.
Rousey qualified for the 2004 Olympic Games at just 17 and has been an athlete to watch ever since, becoming the first U.S. woman to win a medal at the World Championship since 1995... More On Rousey
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 Taylor Takata (66kg)
Date of Birth: 4/6/1982
Residence: Colorado Springs, Colo.
A Hawaii native, Takata won National, Pan American and U.S. Open titles at 60kg before moving up to 66kg in 2004. Since then he won a bronze medal at the 2005 British Open and moved up to the top ranking in a highly competitive weight division... More on Takata |
 Anthony Turner (+100kg)
Date of Birth: 11/8/1979
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
Turner made his first podium appearance at the 2000 National Championships, but had his first major international win at the 2005 U.S. Open and is one of the top Americans in the heavyweight division... |
Taraje Williams-Murray (60kg)
Date of Birth: 11/9/1984
Hometown: Bronx, N.Y.
In 2004 Williams-Murray became the youngest male member of the U.S. Olympic Team. After moving up to 66kg during 2006, Williams-Murray dropped back down to 60kg in 2007 and quickly regained his #1 ranking in the United States... More on Williams-Murray
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Support the Future of USA Judo: Adopt An Athlete
Destination Beijing 2008 and Beyond
What does it take to win an Olympic medal in Judo?
In order to win medals at the world level, Judo athletes must not only train with the best, but they must also compete on a regular basis against the best.
Here is where the importance of skill and experience comes into play.The #1 limitation that our U.S. athletes face is the lack of enough funding to train and compete. USA Judo provides the nationally ranked athletes with limited financial support for training and travel to competitions. However,the funding available is no where close to what is really needed for the USA athletes to properly compete and win at the world level!
Each year, an up-and-coming Judo athlete will spend upwards of $20,000 traveling to competitions and training camps around theworld. Because of the fact that presently the best Judo athletes in the world are located in Europe or Asia, our U.S.athletes find themselves having to travel great distances to findtop-level training opportunities and competitions.
European athletes have a great advantage over ours as a four-hour drivemight get them to two or three countries,where in the UnitedStates such a drive may not get you out of the state! This is why we need your support!
How can you make a difference and be a part of USA Judo's Olympic Success?
USA Judo is proud to present this new “Adopt an Athlete—Destination Beijing 2008 & Beyond” program.The program is meant to provide successful business people and companies, like you, the opportunity to directly support athletes in the Olympic sport of Judo. You can be a part of USA Judo athletes’ success in two ways:Look at the roster of male and female athletes listed in thisbrochure and select one or more athletes to whom you canoffer direct annual support. You may decide to donate your funds to a general athlete development account that would then be divided among all of the athletes on the Elite Athlete Program listed here. Either way,your donations are 100% tax deductible and will be used strictly to support the athletes’ training and travel throughout the year.
Your annual investment to the program!
The tax deductibleinvestment required from you in case youdecide to select the adopt a specific athlete program is that of $2,000 annually. Your commitment to the athlete is for this amount for the years 2006, 2007 and the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games years. This amount may be paid in one lump sum to USA Judo or paid in four payments of $500 each quarter. On the other hand, if you decide to participate in the program by donating to the general athlete development fund, your tax deductible investment in supporting the Olympic sport of Judo would be that of $1,000, payable in one sum or two payments of $500 every six months. This is a one-year only commitment, which you may decide to renew at the end of the year.
Why Join & What Do You Get?
You may have heard the slogan “…Americans send the athletes tothe Olympics.”
This slogan is indeed even truer for Judo than any other sport in the Olympic program. USA Judo has embarked for the first time in the history of the organization on a promotional/fundraising campaign that will provide our athletes with a real opportunity to compete with equalfooting at the World Championships and Olympic Games.
United States Judo athletes can compete and win against the best in the world, but only if they have the necessary resources. As a member of the “Support an Athlete: Destination Beijing 2008 & Beyond” you will receive monthly updates on the success of our athletes. If you decide to support one particular athlete you will receive a signed picture of the athlete and will be kept abreast of their performance and training via monthly emails directly from the athlete you are supporting. Further,as a supporter of an individual athlete,you will be given an opportunity to travel to national championships, World Championships, Pan American Games and Olympic Games to cheer on your adopted athlete and the USA Judo team. Travel groups will be organized by USA Judo and discounted rates will be available to program supporters only.
Please take a minute to study the list of elite Judo athletes on the left and make a decision today to put USA Judo where it belongs! These athletes sacrifice every day to represent this great country but they need your support to win.
Join us today and be a part of USA Judo Olympic success in 2008 and beyond!
Contact Jose H. Rodriguez, USA Judo Executive Director/CEO, at 719.866.4730 to adopt an athlete or for more information on the program.
More USA Judo Athletes Available for Adoption
Djamaldin Aliev (100kg), 23, Greenwood Village, Colo.
2006 National Champion, 2005 and 2007 World Team member
Radu Brestyan (73kg), 24, Wakefield, Mass.
2007 British Open bronze medalist, 2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist
Franchesca Durand (52kg), 16, Coral Springs, Fla.
2007 Senior British Open Champion, 2006 Senior U.S. Open bronze medalist
Jaclyn Feurschwenger (78kg), 27, Linden, N.J.
2006 National Championship silver medalist, 2005 U.S. Open bronze medalist at 70kg
Rick Hawn (81kg), 31, Methuen, Mass.
2004 Olympian, 2006 National Championship silver medalist
Chuck Jefferson (73kg), 31, San Jose, Calif.
Two-time Pan American Champion and 2006 U.S. Open silver medalist
Natalie Lafon (48kg), 26, Harlingen, Texas
2005, 2006 U.S. National Championship silver medalist at 48kg
Bobby Lee (73kg), 19, Coral Springs, Fla.
2006 Senior U.S. Open and Junior Pan American Champion
Jeremy Liggett (66kg),18, Glenville, N.Y.
2006 Pan American Senior Championships silver medalist at 60kg
Garry St. Leger (90kg), 22, Brooklyn, N.Y.
2007 Pan American medalist and 2006 National Champion
Harry St. Leger (81kg), 21, Brooklyn, N.Y.
2006 Senior Nationals bronze medalist, 2004 Junior World Team Member
Daniel McCormick (+100kg), 21, Wakefield, Mass.
2005 British Open bronze medalist, 2004 Junior World Team Member
Dariusz Mikolajczak (100kg), 25, Brooklyn, N.Y.
2005 World Team Member and National Champion at 90kg
Jeanette Rodriguez (48kg), 17, Coral Springs, Fla.
2007 Pan Am Games medalist and British Open Champion
Ann Shiraishi (48kg), 20, Elk Grove, Calif.
2006 U.S. Open and Senior Nationals bronze medalist
Travis Stevens (81kg), 20, Glenville, N.Y.
2007 Pan American Games Champion and 2006 U.S. Open Champion
Denis Utkin (100kg), 25, Brooklyn, N.Y.
2005 U.S.Open silver medalist
Adler Volmar (100kg), 30, Coral Springs, Fla.
1996 Olympian and 2007 Pan Am medalist in the Open division
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