Japan dominated Olympic judo in Athens, winning 8 of 14 gold medals across men's and women's weight categories amid an Iranian disqualification controversy.
Key Facts
- Competing judoka
- 368
- Gold medals contested
- 14
- Weight categories (each gender)
- 7
- Japan gold medals
- 8
- Japan silver medals
- 2
- Venue
- Ano Liossia Olympic Hall
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics, bringing together 368 judoka from around the world to compete across seven weight categories for both men and women, with Japan entering as a dominant force in the sport.
Judo competition took place at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall using a single-elimination format with a repechage system that awarded two bronze medals per weight class. Japan took 8 gold and 2 silver medals. Iranian world champion Arash Miresmaeili was disqualified for being overweight before he would have faced an Israeli opponent, sparking international controversy.
Japan reaffirmed its supremacy in international judo, and the Miresmaeili incident drew widespread attention to politically motivated disqualifications in sport, prompting debate about sportsmanship and the Olympic principle of competing regardless of political tensions.
Result
at Ano Liossia Olympic Hall, Athens