The 20-year-old judoka from New Jersey is the son of Nick Yonezuka, a 1980 Olympian and a phenomenon in the US judo scene. He has ingrained his father’s affection and passion for the sport and has been making waves on the international stage with his awesome show. In October 2023, the star made history by becoming the first American man to win a silver medal at the Junior World Championships.

He fought bravely in the 73 kg class, conquering opponents from Japan, Brazil, and France, before suffering a loss to Iran’s Amirhossein Azizi in the endgame. His silver medal was also the perfect result for the US team at the show, which saw 16 other nations claim medals. Recently, the rising star has made his spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Jack Yonezuka’s path from junior world medalists to training for seniors

Jack Yonezuka built history at the Junior World tournaments in Guayaquil. His impeccable performance earned him a spot on the U.S. judo team for the Senior World Championships in Dubai, where he will battle against some of the best judokas in the world. The seniors will take place in Abu Dhabi.

The International Judo Federation recently shared a video on their Instagram account, displaying Jack and a few of his training highlights. They mentioned it with “Junior World Silver Medalist Ready for Seniors.” His fans were instant to congratulate him, wish him luck for his upcoming competitions. As the Olympics qualifiers are just some days away, Jack is girded up to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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The motivating journey and continued family record

Jack will be one of the four-man judokas showcasing the US at the respected event, along with Colton Brown (90 kg), L.A. Smith III (100 kg), and Nathon Burns (66 kg). He will also go to the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, in October 2023, where he will hustle some of the best opponents from North and South America.

Read more: USA Veterans Blitz Pan AM Judo Championship, Leaving Spectators in Awe with a Dazzling 13-Medal Haul on Day 1 

Jack’s grandfather, Yoshisada Yonezuka, was also a two-time US Olympic judo coach in 1988 and 1993. Jack said, “I am proud to be part of this family legacy, and I hope to honor their achievements with my own.” Jack is following in the footprints of his dad, Nick Yonezuka, a 1980 Olympian and an icon in the US judo scene. All in all, Jack holds a great perspective on aspects of overcoming failure in tournaments while keeping up with the hope of making redemption next year.

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