Rio 2016 Olympic champions Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS) and Ono Shohei (JPN) have won the IJF Judoka of the Year Awards following a fan vote on the IJF Facebook page.
Kosovo’s double world champion and flagbearer Kelmendi, who marked
her country’s first Olympiad with gold in the -52kg category, received 5299
votes. Rio’s own Olympic champion Rafaela Silva (BRA) finished second with 2565
votes ahead of double Olympic champion Kayla Harrison (USA).
Japanese favourite and double world champion Ono Shohei of Tenri University won the IJF Male Judoka of the Year Award after receiving 2166 votes. Heavyweight king Teddy Riner (FRA) finished second with 983 votes ahead of the sensational Fabio Basile (ITA) who earned 668 votes.
Congratulations to the winners and contenders and thank you to everyone who voted!