Ronda Rousey
With the Summer Olympics fast approaching, one might think that former Judo bronze medalis, and current Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion, Ronda Rousey would be itching to compete once again for her country against the worlds best.
Rousey grew up around Judo with her mother, Ann Maria Rousey DeMars, becoming the first (and currently only) American to win at the World Judo Championships, back in 1984. Eventually Ronda would follow in her mothers foot steps, competing around the world for many years finally making it to the Olympics in 2008.
At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China Rousey would became the first American to win an Olympic medal in Women’s judo since the sport was added as official sport back in 1992.
Speaking to Tatame.com Rousey tells them that she is happy with her current career as a mixed martial artist and has no regrets of leaving the mat for the cage.
“The success is really a journey, it’s not a destination. I had that problem with Judo, when I was so focused on the destination that I didn’t care if I was miserable. I mean, I cared, but I thought that was how I was supposed to be. I’m not willing to be miserable for four years. I wouldn’t be sitting around like ‘oh man, I wish I could go back four years so I could be in there too’”.
The Olympic Games are scheduled for London between July 27th and August 12th, bringing many athletes to England. Being there once, when the event was held in China, four years ago, Ronda avoids comparisons between the Olympic medal and the Strikeforce belt.
“They’re both equal, just different”, sums up. “The Olympic medal I felt like it was more that I was coming to peace with myself and getting some closure on my Judo career and everything that just happened. I had an unconventional upbringing, so I had to do Judo. At the end of the fight I would go like kiss the mat and laugh. Everyone was like “that’s so weird. Why is she doing that? It’s like middle-eastern thing”. I just kinda knew that was the last time I would be there. I was really like kissing goodbye. I just knew deep down it wasn’t for me anymore”.
Rousey is currently scheduled to defend her title for the first time on August 18 when she faces former title holder Sarah Kaufman in the main event of the Strikeforce: Rousey vs. Kaufman event at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California on SHOWTIME.