Olympic History of Judo: 2024 Paris on the Horizon

Judo is one of the top disciplines that most of the world only ever really gets to see during the Olympic Games. Although contested throughout the year in various places worldwide, it’s a sport that most only see take place on the grandest stage.

Nonetheless, it’s an event that attracts plenty of attention with each edition that is held. There are many who take up the sport as a hobby once they see the talented judoka take to the mat, while there are others who see the event as an area of excitement to further enhance what they can obtain from the Olympic Games.

Indeed, with Paris 2024 on the horizon, there will be plenty of interest in this year’s discipline, especially as sports betting continues to boom in places like Canada. For those who are looking for the latest sports betting news Canada is experiencing, it’s best to keep a look at the resources that can keep you up-to-date with the latest ongoings. With various Canadian medal candidates such as Christa Deguchi (or Jessica Klimkait), Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard and Shady ElNahas (or Kyle Reyes), these Olympics can be the summum of judo performances for the Canadians.

History of Judo at the Olympic Games

Before we get to Paris 2024, it’s worth taking a brief history lesson about the sport and its involvement at one of the biggest sporting events to take place globally.

The very first judo event took place in Tokyo in 1964, which isn’t that much of a surprise given that the sport has its origins in Japan. It’s a traditional mixed martial art that has been derived from jiu-jitsu and was created by Dr Jigoro Kano, who opened the first dojo (school) in 1882. Since the Munich Games in 1972, it has become a permanent event at each of the following Games.

It did take a little longer for the female discipline to become a main Olympic event, though. The first time it appeared was in 1988, but this was just a demonstration event. However, in 1992, at the Barcelona Games, it became a medal sport for the very first time for female judoka.

This perhaps coincided with the rise in popularity of the sport across Europe, as the late 20th century saw judo become the first martial art to be practiced outside of Japan. Unsurprisingly, Japan has been the most successful at the sport, having won 96 medals. France and the Republic of Korea are the next most successive, with 57 and 46 medals, respectively.

What can we expect to see at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games?

There will be various weight classes competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which helps fuel the excitement and appeal of the sport during the four-year event. The events scheduled to be held are the following:

• Women -48 kg

• Women -52 kg

• Women -57 kg

• Women -63 kg

• Women -70 kg

• Women -78 kg

• Women +78 kg

• Men -60 kg

• Men -66 kg

• Men -73 kg

• Men -81 kg

• Men -90 kg

• Men -100 kg

• Men +100 kg

• Mixed Team

Each match will last a total of four minutes, and there are two different types of scores that are awarded: an ‘ippon’ (a throw of the opponent to the mat or keeping an opponent on the mat for 20 seconds or more) or a ‘waza-ari’ (awarded for a throw that is not as clean as an ippon, or when an opponent is on the mat for between 10 and 20 seconds). A judoka awarded an ippon will automatically win the match.