Born: 1972 (Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan)
Biography:
Noriko Narazaki (jap. 楢崎教子 Narazaki Noriko; Noriko Sugawara) was born on September 27, 1972, in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. She is a former Japanese judoka who achieved great success in her sporting career. Standing at 1.57 meters tall, Noriko Sugawara, later known as Noriko Narazaki, began making her mark in the judo world at a young age.
At the 1990 World Junior Championships, Sugawara won the silver medal in the light lightweight division, showcasing her early potential. Building on this success, she went on to compete in the lightweight division at the 1994 Asian Games, where she clinched the silver medal, finishing second behind South Korea’s Jung Sun-yong. Just two months later, Sugawara proved her worth at the World Student Championships, securing the title and establishing herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Narazaki’s career took another turn when she returned to the semi-lightweight division. In the 1995 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, she displayed her skill and determination. Although she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Cuba’s Legna Verdecia, Narazaki bounced back in the hopeful round, securing a bronze medal. Her victories over Germany’s Alexa von Schwichow, Argentina’s Carolina Mariani, and Poland’s Ewa-Larysa Krause demonstrated her resilience and competitive spirit.
After her marriage, Noriko Sugawara fought under the name Noriko Narazaki at the 1999 World Championships in Birmingham. This championship proved to be a turning point in her career, as she emerged victorious, claiming the world title. The road to victory was not an easy one, but Narazaki demonstrated her unmatched skill and determination, defeating the Algerian Salima Souakri and the Cuban Legna Verdecia in the final.
Narazaki’s accomplishments continued to shine at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the quarterfinals, she triumphed over Salima Souakri once again, displaying her prowess on the international stage. With a victory against China’s Liu Yuxiang in the semi-finals, Narazaki found herself facing her old rival, Legna Verdecia, in the final. Despite her undeniable talent, Narazaki was unable to secure the gold medal and conceded defeat to Verdecia, who won by Ippon after 2 minutes and 19 seconds of intense competition.
Throughout her career, Noriko Narazaki proved herself to be a powerful and accomplished judoka, with two Olympic medals and a world championship to her name. Her commitment to the sport and tenacity on the mat have left a lasting impact on the world of judo. Noriko Narazaki’s story serves as an inspiration to aspiring judokas and a testament to the indomitable spirit of women in sports.
Awards:
– Olympic Silver Medalist (1995)
– Olympic Bronze Medalist (1999)
– World Champion (1999)