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Subject: 2003 Pan American Games and World Championships Team Announced

2003 Pan American Games and World Championships Team Announced
CONTACT: John Miller - USA Judo (303-236-5752; jonmira@aol.com)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (April 30, 2003) - USA Judo announced today the team that will represent the USA in the Pan American Games, August 9-12, in the Dominican  Republic and the World Judo Championships, September 11-14, in Osaka, Japan. Team members are the #1 ranked player in each weight category as of the close of the National Championships which took place April 19-20, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  In order to participate in the 2004 Olympic Games, the USA must qualify each weight division, and the Pan American Games are extremely important in the qualification process. To qualify each weight division for the Olympics, the USA must be ranked in the top 6 for men and top 3 for women in all of Pan America (all countries in North, South, and Central America). Pan American qualification points are earned in the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Pan American Judo Union Championships, the 2003 Pan American Games, and one "Zone Cup" event. The cutoff date for qualification has not yet been determined, but is likely to be sometime in April, 2004. Winning a medal in the Pan American Games will count double towards Olympic qualification points.  The World Judo Championships are even more important than the Pan American Games to Olympic qualification. If a USA athlete finishes in the top 5 at the world championships, that athlete's weight category is automatically qualified for the USA in the 2004 Olympics.  The members of the Olympic Team in Judo will be selected in June, 2004 by means of an Olympic Trials tournament. At the close of the 2004 National Championships in San Diego, California, the top 5 ranked players in each weight class will be invited to the Olympic Trials. The trials will be held at a location to be determined. 

Complete details of the Olympic qualification system and Olympic Trials tournament can be found on USA Judo's website;
2004 Olympics button: http://www.usjudo.org/2004olympics/coaches.htm
2003 Pan American Games and World Judo Championships Team:
Women 48 kg: Sayaka Matsumoto, Richmond, CA
Women 52 kg: Charlee Minkin, Colorado Springs, CO
Women 57 kg: Ellen Wilson, Colorado Springs, CO; 2000 Olympic Team
Women 63 kg: Grace Jividen, Littleton, CO; 9th in 1992 Olympics
Women 70 kg: Chrisina Yannetsos, Colorado Springs, CO
Women 78 kg: Jill Collins, Colorado Springs, CO
Women +78 kg: Nanoushka St. Pre, Colorado Springs, CO
Men 60 kg: Taylor Takata, Colorado Springs, CO
Men 66 kg: Alex Ottiano, Lawrence, MA, 2000 Olympic Team
Men 73 kg: Chuck Jefferson, San Jose, CA
Men 81 kg: Aaron Cohen, Buffalo Grove, IL
Men 90 kg: Brain Olson, Boulder, CO; 1996 Olympic Team; 7th in 2000 Olympics
Men 100 kg: Michael Barnes, San Jose, CA
Men +100 kg: Martin Boonzaayer, Hoffman Estates, IL; 2000 Olympic Team
Head Coach:
Ed Liddie, Colorado Springs, CO; bronze in 1984 Oympics
Assistant Coaches:
Marisa Pedulla, Pittsburgh, PA; 7th in 1996 Olympics
Bob Berland, Lincolnshire, IL; Silver in 1984 Olympics; 1988 Olympic Team
Brett Barron, San Mateo, CA; 1984 Olympic Team
-end-

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DR. DAVID MATSUMOTO