Spain strengthen their coaching staff

The Sporting Activities department of the Royal Spanish Judo Federation hired new sports director, Lee Joo Young which should help to the team for the Olympic Games 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.

New blood in the team, are also Kiyoshi Uematsu and David Alarza, two highly experienced competitors, but with the handicap of the obvious lack of experience in coaching job. They will be responsible for the competitors U21, however Uematsu is still active in judo as competitor so it will be interesting how he will manage to cover this two different tasks.

In 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney was the last time when team of Spain succeed to capture a medal. It was gold, won by Isabel Fernandez in the category U57kg. At the last Olympic Games in London, Sugoi Uriarte was fifth U66kg.

Spain results at the Olympic Games since Sydney:

2012 London Olympic Games
5.place - Sugoi Uriarte - 66kg

2008 Beijing Olympic Games
5.place - Leire Iglesias -70kg
5.place - Esther San Miguel - 78kg
7.place - Ana Carrascosa - 52kg

2004 Athens Olympic Games
5.place - Kenji Uematsu - 60kg
5.place - Oscar Penas - 66kg
5.place - Isabel Fernandez - 57kg
7.place - Cecilia Blanco - 70kg

2000 Sydney Olympic Games
1.place - Isabel Fernandez - 57kg
7.place - Miren Leon - 52kg
7.place - Fernando Gonzalez - 90kg
7.place - Ernesto Perez - O100kg