JudoInside suggests 10 special judoka in 2015

Last year Judo icons Teddy Riner (FRA) and Ilias Iliadis (GRE) both received $40,000 each for extraordinary services brought to the popularisation of judo around the world, as well as excellent results in their sports career. For this year’s award we suggest 10 special judoka this year who might be considered for the special awards this year.

Gwak Dong Han (KOR-23), both World Champion as Asian Champion in 2015 and World Ranking leader at the end of this year.

Yu Song (CHN-28), both World Champion as Asian Champion in 2015 and World Ranking leader at the end of this year.

Kim Polling (NED-24), triple European champion and for the third time in a row World Ranking Leader in December. Coming back from an injury she won the IJF Masters this year.

Avtandili Tchrikishvili (GEO-24), triple European champion, 2014 World Champion and for the third time in a row World Ranking Leader in December. He won the European Games and Grand Slam Tokyo.

Beka Gviniashvili (GEO-20), World and European Junior Champion. Grand Prix Tbilisi and IJF Masters winner.

Szabina Gercsak (HUN-19), World and European Junior Champion. European U23 Champion.

Misato Nakamura (JPN-26), triple World Champion U52kg 2009-2015. She won the World team Championships with Japan and the Grand Slam of Tokyo. She is double Asian Games winner (2010-2014)

Gevrise Emane (FRA-33), triple World champion in two weight categories 2005-2015, quadruple European Champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist. This year she also won the European Games Team title with France.

Kayla Harrison (USA-25), Harrison was this year the winner of the GP Düsseldorf, GP Tbilisi, GP Budapest, Rabat IJF Masters, Panam Games and Grand Slam Tokyo and World Ranking leader. She spoke informally to Russian Federation Putin this year invited by the IOC to sign a declaration to establish the independence of athletes from politics. World Champion 2010, Olympic Champion 2012.

Paula Pareto (ARG-29), Pareto won the world title in 2015 in Astana. She was Olympic bronze medallist in 2008 in Beijing and won silver at the 2014 World Championships. In 2015 she won Grand Prix in Samsun and Budapest and two Panam Opens and silver at the Panam Games and Championships. Number two in the IJF World Ranking this year.