I don’t know why I watched the Olympic opening ceremonies last night, but I discovered something surprising — an amazing number of countries chose judoka for their flag carriers:
Georgia – Zurab ZVIADAURI (men’s -90kg)
Gabon – Melanie ENGOANGUE (women’s -78kg)
Indonesia – Krisna BAYU (men’s -90kg)
Iraq – Hadir LAZAME (men’s over 100kg)
Iran – Arash MIRESMAELI (men’s -66kg) or/and Seyed Mahmoudreza MIRAN FASHANDI (men’s over 100kg)
Spain – Isabel FERNANDEZ (women’s -57kg)
Israel – Ariel ZEEVI (men’s -100kg)
Kazakhstan – Askhat ZHITKEYEV (men’s -100kg)
Canada – Nicolas GILL (men’s -100kg)
Costa Rica – David FERNANDEZ (men’s -60kg)
Great Britain – Kate HOWEY (women’s -70kg)
Mongolia – Damdinsuren NYAMKHUU (men’s -81kg)
Niger – Abdou ALASSANE DJI BO (men’s -66kg)
Netherlands – Mark HUIZINGA (men’s -90kg)
Hungary – Antal KOVACS (men’s -100kg)
Uzbekistan – Abdullo TANGRIEV (over 100kg)
Portugal – Nuno DELGADO (men’s -81kg)
Fiji – Naisiga RASOKISOKI (women’s -78kg)