ACOG - News - IBM

(19 July 1996)

Draw Heightens Anticipation As Matches Begin Tomorrow

"We're anxious to get started," commented Corrine SHIGEMOTO, USA Women's Coach after the draw for tournament bracketing was completed today. Her comments mirrored the feelings from the nearly 50 countries competing in this event as they await the start of the Centennial Olympic Games on Saturday. Coach Han HOSAN (GER) added that "...the German team feels very good...good food...good conditions...everything is great."

Competitors to watch in the women's division include Japan's Ryoko TAMURA (48kg) has won 77 consecutive extra-lightweight division matches and is heavily favored to keep that streak going on her way through the medal rounds. Celita SCHUTZ (USA) is expected to do well in the (72kg) division. SCHUTZ, a first degree black belt (Shodan) finished third at the 1994 U.S. Senior Nationals. Others to watch include Marie Claire RESTOUX (FRA), JUNG Sun-Young (KOR)., Odalis REVE JIMENEZ (CUB) and Ulla WERBROUCK (BEL).

On the men's side, those in the know are quick to point out that traditional favorite Japan is expected to be challenged by South Korea and Georgia this time around. Toshiko KOGA (JPN) is still the favorite in the lightweight (78kg) class. David KHAKHALEISHVILLI (GEO), David DOUILLET (FRA) and Nikolay OYEGIN (RUS) all bear watching in their respective weightclasses. Naoya OGAWA (JPN) is considered to be a heavy favorite in the heavyweight (95kg) division. James PEDRO (USA), a gold medalist in the 1995 Pan Am Games, is touted as USA's best chance for a medal in Atlanta.

Three expected competitors were listed as no shows and will not be competing; two from the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and one from Sweden (SUI). Vakhtang IAGORASHVILI (GEO), Atilla KALNOKIKIS (HUN), and Phillip WAEFFLER (SUI) have now been confirmed as entrants for their respective countries in this grueling one day event.

For the first time in Olympic competition, individual coaches will be allowed mat side during their athlete's match.

Years and years of the Olympic quest will be over the very first day of competition for the men and women in the heavyweight division as their event concludes the very day it begins. Waiting in the wings are the participants of the other six weightclasses as their turn on the mat will get underway as the Games continue.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Bill Painter.



Olympic Factoid
More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined.