Jonathan decided to make the move up to the -60 kg category only this year and is still light within the group but he knew it was for the best with the junior age band just around the corner. At the 2024 Panamerican Cadet Championships he won gold but then tested himself in the junior section and managed to earn a bronze there too.
Dedicated to his own improvement, he entered the Prague and Paks European junior cups just a few weeks before the Lima World Cadet Championships. He came up empty-handed but not discouraged and in Lima he put those experiences to good use and delivered a world class performance. Now he is a world cadet champion, the first in America’s history. In interview, the day after his incredible win, he said, “I feel sore but I also feel great!"
"My family is from Korea. My parents came to the US from Korea separately and then met and married in Los Angeles. That’s where I was born and raised. My coaches in LA are also Korean and so my style is fast like the Korean style. Recently I moved to Charlotte in North Carolina to the USPC (United States Performance Centre) and so I’m training full time now alongside school.
Honestly I have to give my two older brothers so much credit. There is no way I’d be in this position without them. They’re always there to push me. In the early mornings they get me into our scheduled sessions. We are always there for each other. They’re better than me at judo, I really believe that. Their spirit inspires me every day to be better and achieve things."
"I wanted to believe that I could be world champion but it’s hard to really believe it. I took a lot of time to mentally prepare myself to be on the podium. I’m still shocked. I didn’t expect to win the final but I kept my focus and pulled through. Coach Velazco was really important in that win. He kept me in check and stopped me from slipping into lazy moments. He kept me preparing in the right way between contests too and helped me to feel confident in the game plan for each flight. He played a big part in this medal.
It felt really normal to have my parents here, they’re almost always with us at events. I felt their presence; seeing them in the crowd also gave me motivation. It was that little extra, wanting to make them proud. My dad is a black in judo too now. He trained with us in LA and wants to be a referee in the future. He’s doing some refereeing regionally but to move to the national ranks you have to be a black belt and so he earned his just recently.”
Having topped the world podium at cadet level, what’s next?
"Short term I will fight in Tajikistan in October, also at -60 kg, at the World Championships Juniors 2024. Long term though, it’s all about LA2028. Obviously it will be a really tough and intense 4 years but it’s what I’ve been working for my entire sporting life. Now it feels possible and I’m ready to take on whatever the challenges are in this 4 year period ahead.”
Jonathan Yang has made history for his country and knowing what he is capable of is the best fuel for the coming challenges. Bring on the juniors!
