Two-Time Olympic Champion | Kayla Harrison Wins Gold Again!

August 16, 2016

Kayla Harrison

Olympic Gold Medalist, Judo

In 2012, Kayla became the first American woman to win Gold in judo after a five-match undefeated streak and World Championship victory. This year’s Rio games has been no exception. She earned her second gold medal in judo, making her the first American to also defend an Olympic judo title! 

"After Harrison won the Olympic title in London, she vowed to retire from the competitive grind of the Japanese martial art. She wanted to focus on other things, like becoming a firefighter.

That goal, however, “kind of dissolved” after the last games, she said. She is now planning to spend more time working on her foundation, Fearless, which aims to help victims of sexual abuse. Harrison herself endured years of sexual abuse by a previous judo coach.

Harrison became the first American to defend an Olympic judo title when she forced Audrey Tcheumeo of France to tap out in the final.

With just six seconds left in an otherwise scoreless final, Harrison trapped Tcheumeo in a move that threatened to break her arm, forcing her to submit and handing the American an automatic ippon victory.

“This is my legacy,” Harrison said. “I retire as a two-time Olympic champ, one of the greatest the sport has ever seen.”

Source: NewsDay.com

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