the fact that its Thommos 300th,

LONDON -- When the judo events kick off at the Rio de Janeiro games, the home team will send out a defending Olympic champion on the first day of competition.With five other top-ranked judoka on its Olympic team, Brazil has a particularly strong home advantage. Although judo has traditionally been dominated by the Japanese, who created the modern martial art, the combat sport has become truly universal. That means the Japanese team, which won only a single gold medal at London in its worst-ever Olympic showing -- is no longer the favorite.Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, said he expects to see more unexpected winners at Rio.I think Mongolia will be the big surprise of the Olympic games, he said. Vizer also noted strong fighters from the U.S., Greece, Georgia, France, Russia, Cuba and South Korea. There will also be two refugee competitors, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, competing under the International Olympic Committee flag.Vizer said some rule changes to judo -- including the outlawing of leg grabs -- were made to distinguish the sport from others like wrestling and will hopefully inspire more fighters to attempt the big throws judo is known for. Fights can be won instantly if judoka flip their opponents flat on their back with considerable force and speed.While some have criticized the rule changes arguing that they favor the Japanese style of judo, which focuses on throws rather than the groundwork component of judo, Vizer said the tweaks are necessary to modernize the sport.Countries with a strong wrestling tradition, such as those in Eastern Europe and Brazil, have typically produced judo fighters who win once judo fighters end up on the ground. Thats when competitors struggle to either pin their opponents for 20 seconds or force them to tap out by applying a stranglehold or an armbar, a move where the limb is hyperextended to the point it might break.RETURNING STARFrenchman Teddy Riner is simply the most successful judoka of all time. The 27-year-old heavyweight has won a record eight world championship titles, five European titles and two Olympic medals, including a gold at the London games. At 6-foot-8 inches, Riner strikes an imposing figure on the judo mat but moves surprisingly fast for a heavyweight. Riner tends to dominate by throwing his big right arm over his opponents head to take control of the fight, and very few of his competitors have been able to prevent Riner from securing a dominant grip on their uniforms.BEST RIVALRYAfter becoming the first American to win a judo gold medal, Kayla Harrison will be looking to defend her title in Rio. Her biggest roadblock might be longtime rival Brazilian Mayra Aguiar, who defeated Harrison at a Paris competition earlier this year with a match-ending throw. The two have now fought 16 times -- and split the victories evenly. At a world cup final in Sao Paolo several years ago where Harrison won over Aguiar on penalties, she was booed by the local crowd. Harrison described Brazilian judo fans as wild after the experience. Good thing I dont speak Portuguese, because if I did, I might cry.OLYMPIAN EFFORTTwo judoka athletes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be fighting as part of the IOC refugee team in Rio. Yolande Bukasa Mabika will be competing in the womens 70-kilogram division and Popole Misenga will be fighting in the mens 90-kilogram division. The two are currently training in Brazil. Misenga sought asylum in Brazil when he arrived to compete in the world championships being held there and credits the technical training he has received with making him a better fighter.You cant let people think that just because they are refugees, they have to stop what theyre doing, he said. Even though they are refugees, they need to continue practicing their sport.---Rachel Cohen in New York contributed to this report.Nike React Element 55 Heren Sale . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Vapormax 97 Kopen . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. http://www.vapormaxsalenederland.com/nike-react-element-87-goedkoop-kopen.html . PETERSBURG, Fla. Vapormax Flyknit 3 Sale . -- Anaheim Ducks captain and leading scorer Ryan Getzlaf has been scratched from Sunday nights game against the Vancouver Canucks because of an upper-body injury. Nike Vapormax 2019 Heren Sale . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session.Adelaide coach Don Pyke says his AFL players wont be trying any harder than usual to win for stalwart Scott Thompson.The midfielder will become the fifth Crow to play 300 AFL games when he fronts against Collingwood on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.Im not sure that players necessarily go out and play extra hard based on the fact that its Thommos 300th, Pyke said.We will go about normal business in terms of how we want to play and prepare for the game. But we recognise its a unique night for the footy club and for Thommo.Pyke was the Crows midfield coach in 2005-06 when Adelaide-born Thompson returned after four seasons with Melbourne.I got to see him when he first aarrived as aggressive, probably a little bit impatient, but clearly driven, Pyke said.ddddddddddddReturning down the track, to come across a slightly older, slightly wiser Thommo, he has just matured.Thompson will be the 75th AFL player to reach the 300 game milestone.Its a massive achievement, Pyke said.He has been a super player - you dont play 300 games of AFL footy without having some real genuine quality, both as a person and as a player.His competitive spirit is probably the thing that stands out for me ... he wills himself on and on. ' ' '