Ryoko Tani

Ryoko Tani
Personal information
Native name谷 亮子, Tani Ryōko
Birth nameRyoko Tamura (田村 亮子, Tamura Ryōko)
Nickname(s)Yawara-chan, Tawara
NationalityJapanese
Born (1975-09-06) September 6, 1975 (age 49)
Fukuoka, Japan
OccupationJudoka
Height1.46 m (4 ft 9 in)
Sport
Country Japan
SportJudo
Weight class–48 kg
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesGold (2000, 2004)
World Champ.Gold (1993, 1995, 1997,
Gold( 1999, 2001, 2003,
Gold( 2007)
Asian Champ.Gold (1994)
Medal record
Women's judo
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2000 Sydney ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens ‍–‍48 kg
Silver medal – second place 1992 Barcelona ‍–‍48 kg
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta ‍–‍48 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing ‍–‍48 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1993 Hamilton ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 1995 Chiba ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 1997 Paris ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 1999 Birmingham ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 2001 Munich ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 2003 Osaka ‍–‍48 kg
Gold medal – first place 2007 Rio de Janeiro ‍–‍48 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Barcelona ‍–‍48 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1994 Hiroshima ‍–‍48 kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1991 Osaka ‍–‍48 kg
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1995 Fukuoka ‍–‍48 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF52630
JudoInside.com2970
Updated on 30 May 2023

Ryoko Tani (谷 亮子, Tani Ryōko, née Tamura (田村), born September 6, 1975) is a Japanese politician and retired female judoka.

Competing in the extra-lightweight (48 kg) class, she won a record seven world titles and five Olympic medals including two golds at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.[1] After her retirement, the International Judo Federation named her "best female judoka ever".

In 2010, she was elected to the House of Councillors, the upper house of the Japanese parliament.

  1. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Ryoko Tani". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2016.