U.S. Athletes to Compete in Paris Grand Prix This Weekend

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) - Seven U.S. athletes will compete in the Paris Grand Prix on Saturday and Sunday. 

Considered to be the most difficult tournament in Europe, the Paris Grand Prix is a USA Judo Senior A+ Level Point Tournament that has nearly 400 competitors annually.

Coming off his silver medal finish at the Belgium Open, 2008 Olympian and two-time Pan American Champion Travis Stevens (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE / 81kg) is considered to be the top hope for Team USA to earn its first medal at this event since Stevens' coach Jimmy Pedro (Wakefield, Mass.) won Paris in 1998.

Stevens will be joined by five other highly ranked U.S. athletes, all hailing from the USA Judo National Training Site at the Jason Morris Judo Center in Glenville, N.Y., who are first-time competitors at the Paris Grand Slam, including: 

• Nick Kossor (60kg), 2008 USA Judo Senior National Champion
• Brad Bolen (66kg), #1-ranked U.S. athlete at 66kg
• Tony Sangimino (90kg), two-time Junior World Team member
• Kyle Vashkulat (100kg), 2009 Senior Pan Am Team member
• Natalie Lafon (52kg), 2008 USA Judo Senior National Champion
• Hannah Martin (NYAC / 57kg), 2009 USA Judo Senior Nationals silver medalist 

Competition schedule is as follows: 

Saturday, February 6
Men's 60kg, 66kg, 73kg
Women's 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg

Sunday, February 7
Men's 81kg, 90kg, 100kg, +100kg
Women's 70kg, 78kg, +78kg

Tags: Brad Bolen, Hannah Martin, Kyle Vashkulat, Natalie Lafon, Nick Kossor, Tony Sangimino, Travis Stevens