Nicolas Yonezuka

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Nicolas Yonezuka[1] is a former American competitor in the sport of judo.[2]

Early life[edit]

Yonezuka is from New Jersey.[3] He attended Watchung Hills Regional High School, where he made the schools Hall of Fame.[1] He was taught judo by his father, Yoshisada Yonezuka.[4]

Athletic career[edit]

Nicolas was a 5 time US National Judo Champion,[1] and qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but did not compete due to the U.S. Olympic Committee's boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia at the age of 16.[1] He was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many years later.[5][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Mathews, Eleanor (May 2014). "Watchung Hills RHS Hall of Fame inducts nine" (PDF) (20). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Strunsky, Steve (1999-06-28). "SUMO WRESTLING - A Big Man in a Small Circle Who May Be Olympic-Bound". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  3. ^ "Black Belt". Black Belt. Buyer's Guide. 19 (12). Active Interest Media. December 1981. ISSN 0277-3066.
  4. ^ "Seiko Seito Goju-Ryu Karate-Do Kyokai History". www.nekodokarate.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  5. ^ Caroccioli, Tom; Caroccioli, Jerry (2008). Boycott: Stolen Dreams of the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Highland Park, IL: New Chapter Press. pp. 243–253. ISBN 978-0942257403.
  6. ^ "US Olympic Judo Teams 1964 to present | Judo Info". judoinfo.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.