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Seven U.S. athletes are headed to the super elite Paris Grand Slam this Saturday and Sunday for top fights with some of the best judoka from around the world. Coaching will be U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Jason Morris and U.S. Olympic Team Assistant Coaches Jim Pedro Sr. and Jhonny Prado.
Competing will be: Nick Kossor, 60 kg. (Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY), Brad Bolen, 66 kg. (Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY), Nick Delpopolo, 73 kg. (Budokan Judo Club, Miami, FL), Cammi Kaichi, 52 kg. (Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY), Angelica Delgado, 52 kg. (Ki-Itsu-Sai National Training Center, Miami, FL), Hannah Martin, 63 kg. (Jason Morris Judo Center, Scotia, NY), Nina Cutro-Kelly, 78 kg. (Universal Judo, San Antonio, TX).“It will be very interesting to see how the new rules are interpreted and enforced at the Paris Grand Slam and how the athletes respond to these changes,” said Team USA’s 2012 Olympic Head Coach Jimmy Pedro. “It will be very difficult for some to adjust to techniques that have become instinct for many years. I look forward to seeing the competition and watching our young team perform.” To see USA Judo’s explanation of the rule changes, go to RULES.
Attending a training camp associated with the Grand Slam but not competing will be U.S. Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison, U.S. Olympic bronze medalist Marti Malloy and U.S. Olympic Teammate Travis Stevens, who took a 5th Place at the London Games.