To introduce myself, my name is Kristen and I am training in judo for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China next year in 2008! This is where it all started… I began training and competing in judo in late ‘03 after attending Liberty University. Lots of people have asked me what made me want to start doing judo? I would say that one day something just clicked, it is like a light bulb went off, after a few conversations with a friend at college and seeing his interest in not only judo but mixed martial arts we began talking about my Dad who was World Champion in’75 and an Olympian himself in’76. I thought that with all his knowledge right there for me I should know a lot more about judo than I did at the time. I returned home from college that summer and began training in judo every day. I fell in love with the sport and excelled quickly. I decided that summer that I wanted to go to the Olympic Games. Ever since then I have been training hard and traveling all over the world competing representing the USA. I recently moved to train at the National Training Site in Wakefield, MA with coach Jimmy Pedro. Jimmy is a double Olympic bronze medalist and former World Champion not to mention a great coach. When I am home in Northern Virginia I train at my Dad’s judo club and at Neto-my boyfriend’s club, Yamasaki Academy. I do my strength and conditioning workouts at Velocity Sports Performance. I am working hard to earn my Olympic team berth next year at the Trials in June! Come to Las Vegas to cheer me on at the Olympic Trials! 
