Judo’s Sun-Hui Kye targets gold in another weight class

In 1996, North Korea’s Sun-Hui Kye became the youngest ever Judoka to win an Olympic title. At the age of 16 she beat Ryoko Tamura in Atlanta in the U48 kg weight category. Kye became World Champion in Osaka last year and is also one of the favourites for the title U57kg.

Kye can become the first ever woman to win an two Olympic gold medal in two different weight categories. Kye’s record at major events is impressive, which should support her ambitions.

Background
The extra-lightweight division of women's Judo saw one of the biggest upsets of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The overwhelming favourite was Japan's Ryoko Tamura, who entered the final with an 84-match winning streak. Her opponent was 16-year-old Sun-Hui Kye, who had never competed outside her native country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and who had been given a wildcard entry to the Olympics by the International Judo Federation.

Kye had never heard of Tamura and had never seen her fight until she watched videos of her before the final. Kye startled Tamura by attacking from the start and the double World Champion was unable to establish her rhythm. With 22 seconds left, Kye scored with a leg hook and then added an insurance point when Tamura, on her knees, was penalised for "false attack."

At the 2000 Sydney Games, Kye moved up to the half-lightweight division and earned a bronze medal, while being cheered on by hundreds of Korean fans who, in the spirit of solidarity, sang songs from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in her honour. Kye won the World Championship in 2001 and successfully defended her World Title in 2003.