World and Olympic Medalists to Compete at USA World Cup Olympic Qualifier in Doral Beginning on Friday

(Colorado Springs, Colo.) – With less than two years leading up to the 2012 Olympic Games, more than 300 athletes from 43 nations will travel to Miami this weekend to compete in the USA World Cup at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa on Friday and Saturday. 

A qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games and the final major international event before the Senior World Championships that will be held Sept. 9-13 in Tokyo, this event will draw athletes from nations including Brazil, Korea, Ukraine, Canada, Portugal, France, Australia and Colombia.

"The level of competition at this World Cup will be as good as in any Olympic Games,” said USA Judo CEO Jose H. Rodriguez.  “We are very appreciative for the support that we have received from the City of Doral, Miami Dade County, Miami Dade Sports Commission and the Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau in order to make this Judo World Cup happen in Miami. It is always very easy to have a successful event in Miami because it is an easy sell to the countries and the athletes.”

Among the athletes competing are at least eight World or Olympic medalists and dozens of World Cup, Pan American and European Championship medalists. 

Competition will be held in the Legends Ballroom at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, 4400 N.W. 87^th Ave., Miami, FL 33178.

A limited number of tickets are still available for the event.  Tickets are $50 per day and can be purchased in advance by contacting Melinda Navarro at MelindaNavarro@aol.com.

Competition schedule is as follows:

Friday August 27, 2010

10 a.m. Preliminary Competition
Women's 48kg, 52kg, 57kg, 63kg
Men's 60kg, 66kg, 73kg

6 p.m. World Cup Opening Ceremonies

6:30 p.m. World Cup Semifinals and Medal Matches

Saturday August 28, 2010

10 a.m. Preliminary Competition
Women's 70kg, 78kg and +78kg
Men's 81kg, 90kg, 100kg and +100kg

6 p.m. World Cup Semifinals and Medal Matches

Athletes to watch include:

• Isabel Fernandez (ESP), 57kg, two-time Olympic medalist and four-time World Championship medalist 
   
• Paula Parreto (ARG), 48kg, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist 
   
• Ketleyn Lima Quadros (BRA), 57kg, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist 
   
• Dirk Van Tichelt (BEL), 73kg, 2009 World Championships bronze medalist and 2008 Olympic Games fifth-place finisher 
   
• Catherine Jacques (BEL), 78kg, 2005 Championships World bronze medalist and 2004 Olympic Games fifth-place finisher at 70kg 
   
• Gennadiy Bilodid (UKR), 81kg, 2005 World Championships bronze medalist and 16-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Guilherme Bentes (POR), 90kg 1997 World Championships bronze medalist at 71kg
   
• Krzysztof Wilkomirski (POL), 73kg, 2001 World Championships medalist and seven-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Amy Cotton (CAN), 78kg, 13-time World Cup and seven-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Catherine Roberge (CAN), 78kg, 10-time World Cup and five-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Askhab Kostoev (RUS), 100kg, 10-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Kayla Harrison (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE), 78kg, six-time World Cup medalist and 2010 Pan American bronze medalist 
   
• Salamu Mezhidov (RUS), 81kg, six-time World Cup and four-time European medalist 
   
• Evgeny Kudyakov (RUS), 60kg, six-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Marie Muller (LUX), 52kg, five-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Travis Stevens (Wakefield, Mass. / NYAC / USA Judo National Team FORCE), 81kg, four-time World Cup and four-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Emanuel Lucenti (ARG), 81kg, four-time World Cup and four-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Sasha Mehmedovic (CAN), 66kg, four-time World Cup and two-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Michael Eldred (Fruitland, Idaho / Western Idaho Judo Institute), 73kg, four-time World Cup medalist and 2009 Pan American medalist 
   
• Diogo Lima (POR), 81kg, four-time World Cup medalist 
   
• Marti Malloy (San Jose, Calif. / USA Judo National Training Site at San Jose State University), 57kg, three-time World Cup medalist and 2010 Pan American silver medalist 
   
• Javier Guedez (VEN), 60kg, two-time World Cup and eight-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Leonardo Leite (BRA), 100kg, two-time World Cup and six-time Pan American medalist 
   
• Larisa Ceric (BIH), +78kg, Junior World Champion

 

Tags: Kayla Harrison, Marti Malloy, Michael Eldred, Travis Stevens