Sayaka Matsumoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese-born American
judoka. Matsumoto competed for the United States in the women's 48 kg judo event at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
Matsumoto, who was raised in California, is coached by her father, David Matsumoto
. She began judo
at the age of 5. Matsumoto won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, but did not compete in the Olympics that year because the U.S. failed to earn a spot in her weight class. Matsumoto again won the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 and competed in the Olympic Games.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
she fought against Ryoko Tani
(JPN) and Shugen Wu (CHN), but lost both matches.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese-born American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judoka. Matsumoto competed for the United States in the women's 48 kg judo event at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
Matsumoto, who was raised in California, is coached by her father, David Matsumoto
David Matsumoto
David Matsumoto is an internationally acclaimed author, psychologist and judoka. His areas of expertise include culture, emotion, facial expressions, nonverbal behavior and microexpressions...
. She began judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
at the age of 5. Matsumoto won the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, but did not compete in the Olympics that year because the U.S. failed to earn a spot in her weight class. Matsumoto again won the U.S. Olympic Trials in 2008 and competed in the Olympic Games.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
she fought against Ryoko Tani
Ryoko Tani
is one of the world's most famous and successful judoka. She was born in Fukuoka, Fukuoka. She was an employee at Toyota Motor Corporation, but is now entering politics.-Career:...
(JPN) and Shugen Wu (CHN), but lost both matches.