Number one seed in Zagreb Jack Yonezuka opens in tough pool

Jack Yonezuka, a top seed at the Grand Prix of Zagreb 2024 in the men's -73 kg category, has established himself as a promising young judoka from the United States. Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and now living in West Long Branch, Yonezuka comes from a family with deep ties to judo. His father, Nicolas, was an Olympic qualifier, and his grandfather, Yoshisada Yonezuka, coached the USA Olympic judo team.

At 21 years old, Jack has already competed in three IJF World Championships, with his best result being a ninth-place finish in 2023 in Doha. He has also medaled twice in the World Junior Championships, earning silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023, becoming the first U.S. male judoka in 30 years to reach the world junior podium.

Training at Cranford JKC in New Jersey under his father’s coaching, Yonezuka is driven by personal goals and determination. His training partner is his brother, Nicolas, who is also an active competitor. Among his most memorable moments is his unexpected qualification for the 2022 Junior World Championships, where he won a medal after last-minute preparations.

Yonezuka is known for his pre-match ritual, where he squats for a few seconds to focus before stepping onto the mat. His ambitions include winning a medal at the 2028 Olympics and becoming a senior world medalist. Despite some early challenges, including a shoulder injury at age 11, Yonezuka continues to push himself, embodying his philosophy of never giving up.

His first opponent in Zagreb will be French Maxime Gobert, not a piece of cake and a good way to show his ambitions from the start. He is in a tough pool with Batchaev from Belgium who faces promising Kosovan Dardan Cena.