Tamura ryoko biography for kids

Ryoko Tamuraborn September 6, 1975 in Fukuoka, Japan is a Japanese judo athlete .


Women's judo champion Ryoko Tamurawas the dominant athlete in her weight class (under 48 kg/106 lbs) for over a decade.

A popular personality in her native Japan, Tamura was known for her quickness and skill despite her small size (about 4'8" and 99 lbs.). She won at least 11 straight Fukuoka Cup International Women's Judo championships, six world championships, and two silver medals and one gold medal at three Summer Olympics.

Won Upset International Victory

Tamura was born on September 6, 1975, in Fukuoka, Japan, and grew up in Tama, Japan.

Tamura ryoko biography for kids pictures

She had an older brother who began learning judo, which introduced her to the sport. Tamura wanted to learn the sport--which was a form of one-on-one wrestling-like combat that used holds, balance and timing, and was judged like boxing--but had to convince her mother that the sport was not too rough for her.

She finally be