November 2023

Nearly five years after entering his last major international event, 26-year-old Cole Chandler (Honolulu, Hawaii / Hawaii Tenri) returned to the senior circuit in Senegal, winning gold at the Dakar African Open on Saturday.

The 2018 Junior World Team member and two-time Senior National Champion went 4-0 in the 73 kg division as the lone U.S. competitor in Dakar.

Chandler entered the event unseeded, but gave up just one score in any of his matches, rebounding from being down by a waza-ari to choke Konin Emmanuel Kossan (CIV) in the opening round.

In the quarterfinals, Chandler threw 2019 Senior African Championships bronze medalist Diogo Cesar (GBS) for ippon with a seoi nage (shoulder throw).

Chandler took out 2021 Senior World Team member Ety Marc Tevia Ndong Nze Nkala (GAB) in the semifinals with a pair of tai otoshis (body drop throws) for a waza-ari (half point) score each.

With a podium finish secured, Chandler threw 2016 Olympian Andrew Thomas Mlugu (TAN) for ippon with a kosoto gari (small outer reaping).

A few weeks later, Chandler traveled to Hong Kong, accompanied by our very own Anthony Brett and Kailer Okura, to compete in the Hong Kong Asian Open. He lost his first round match to Minsu Kim, a Korean judoka who went on to win bronze.

Nevertheless, we are proud of Cole for getting back into the international competition circuit and are excited to see what his future holds!