Jonathan Yang became the first-ever American judoka to win a World Cadet gold when he defeated Fuku Yamamoto (JPN) in the -60kg final at the 2024 World Cadet Championships in Lima.
At this year’s 2026 World Cadet Championships in Guayaquil, Sebastian Teran defeated Narek Davtyan (ARM) to win the -55kg gold.
It will be interesting to see how Yang and Teran proceed with their career. The transition from cadet to junior is a big one. And the jump from junior to senior is an even bigger one. Not all make it.
To date, the USA has had three World Junior gold medalists: Hillary Wolf in 1994, Ronda Rousey in 2004, and Kayla Harrison in 2008.
Wolf did not go on to win any senior World or Olympic medals. Rousey had some success at the senior level, winning a World silver medal in 2007 and an Olympic bronze in 2008. Harrison had the most success as a senior, winning the World title in 2010 and Olympic golds in 2012 and 2016.
Interestingly, no American male player has ever been a World Junior champion although Joey Wanag got bronze in 1983 (and subsequently a senior World silver in 1991); Jason Morris got bronze in 1986 (and subsequently an Olympic silver in 1992 and senior World bronze in 1993), and Jimmy Pedro got a bronze in 1990 (and subsequently a senior World title in 1999 and Olympic bronzes in 1996 and 2004).
