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)
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.