Melissa Myers is bound for World Judo Championships.
By Katelyn Weisbrod
[email protected]
Melissa Myers is the best judo player in the country.
In her age and weight division, that is. As a result, the University of Iowa sophomore will jet off to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 20 for the Junior World Judo Championships.
Although it is less popular in the United States, judo is one of the top three most popular sports in the world, Myers said. It is a Japanese martial art in which two players face off to be the first to pin, choke, or throw the other.
“It’s part of my identity now; I can’t not do judo, and I’m good at it,” Myers said. “If I don’t do judo for a couple weeks, I get a little antsy. It’s a great stress reliever just to throw and be thrown by people.”
Myers won first place in the Judo Youth and Scholastic National Championship in Dallas in April. She then advanced to the international championship, which will take place at the end of the month.
Myers began judo when she was 4. She and her two older brothers started together at a dojo, a training facility for judo, in their hometown of Naperville, Illinois.
Myers will compete with women from all around the world, from countries in which judo is more widely known.
“I’m trying to stay positive. I’m hoping I’ll do well. I’ve fought in two other international tournaments; my first one I was clobbered, my second one went better,” she said. “International players fight so much differently than people in the United States. If I just keep training and stay focused, I think I have a shot of winning at least one match.”
UI student Derek Ikoma has been involved with judo with Myers for 12 years.
“I’ll be watching her from afar, rooting her every step of the way,” Ikoma said. “By the training she’s done, I think she’ll do amazing. It’s going to be a tough competition, but I think she’ll definitely win a couple matches and get her name out there internationally.”
After the tournament is over, Myers looks forward to more competitions to come and a shot at the Olympics.
Myers said she is ranked third in the senior world division, which means she will get to pick which international competition she would like to go to try to accumulate points for other competitions and the Olympics.
Her coach, John Gussman, has been with her throughout the 16 years she has been involved in judo. Gussman said there is no funding available for American judo coaches to accompany their athletes to international competitions, so he will not go to Abu Dhabi with Myers.
“I’m saving my money for when she goes to the Olympics,” Gussman said.