Jason Morris honoured at New York Open

A USA Judo and New York Athletic Club (NYAC) legend, Jason Morris received the prestigious "Lifetime Achievement Award" on March 26, 2017 at the historic NYAC. Morris was on hand at the historic club to coach the USA Men's team at the 34th NY Open when, during a break in the action, he was surprised with the ceremony to celebrate his phenomenal achievements in the sport of judo.

2017 also represents the 25th anniversary of Morris' Olympic glory in Barcelona as well as his father's Bernie's untimely death, 9 days following Jason's victory.

Morris enjoyed one of the all-time great careers for USA Judo, which included winning a silver medal at the Olympics, being a 4x Olympian (1988, 1992, 1996 & 2000), winning a bronze medal at the world championships along with being the head coach of the Olympic Judo team in 2008. His NYAC accolades already included becoming the first judoka inducted in its Hall of Fame, being named as its best overall athlete in 1993 and winning the NYAC's first Olympic judo medal in 1992.

Morris' success was an integral part of raising the NYAC judo budget, so future stars could receive more funding, including Olympic medalists Kayla Harrison (Gold, 2012 & 2016), Marti Malloy (Bronze, 2012), Jimmy Pedro (Bronze, 1996 & 2004), Ronda Rousey (Bronze, 2008) and Travis Stevens (Silver, 2016).

Morris also founded the Jason Morris Judo Center (JMJC) in Glenville, NY, which has become one of the top programs in the country. In fact, JMJC developed Stevens for his first Olympic appearance in 2008, as well as Rousey in her early years, long before she found fame in MMA.

The JMJC boasts more good news on the day with the results of the USA men's and women's teams, as they both took silver medals, including terrific performances from JMJC/NYAC athletes Brad Bolen, Quentin Cook and Hannah Martin, as well as former JMJC prodigy Jack Hatton.

The men reached the final for the first time since the NY Open became a team event seven years ago.

"I am extremely honored and proud to receive this award from this institution (NYAC) which I hold in such high regard," Morris said after the ceremony. "It was an extra bonus that my wife, Teri, my twins, Randi & Dani and my mother (Chris) could be here to share this with me, as well as so many current and former JMJC athletes."

One of the highlights of the event was a demo put on by Japanese judo players who work for a sake company and call themselves the sakemen. They included the cute 7-year-old Morris twins in their demonstration, to the delight of the sellout crowd.