Road to LA 2028

Olympians are not born - they are made. And their first step involves learning the basics in their home clubs.

Here the focus should be learning fundamentals and learning to train.

Great Result: US Jr Open Champion, Montreal Open Champion

Training Times: 10-15 hrs per week

The goal here is to graduate high school and get a solid foundation for U20 judo - that means the discovery of at least one footsweep and one O-waza (Big throw) that works in international competition, this can be used as foundation for higher level coaches to build on. Also good habits for training need to be developed here. Also this phase ends with the winning of your Blackbelt - beating an international blackbelt and completing the formal testing. 

Train to Train

Good Results: Non-IJF Open Medals (Cadet, Jr and Sr Divisions)

Great Results: IJF Cadet Tour Medals

Best Result: Cadet World Champion

Training Times: 20 Hrs per week

Predicting Olympic Success

At the ICECP course Jimmy Pedro, OLY (USA) told D'Arcy Rahming Jr - the biggest predictor of an Olympic Medalist is a medalist at the Jr World Championships.

Train to Compete

Great Results: IJF Jr Tour Medals

Best Result: Medal at Jr Worlds