大象传媒

大象传媒 World Service
Last updated:聽7 september, 2009 - 12:16 GMT

Mother of Judo reunited with medal

In 1959, New Yorker Rusty Kanokogi disguised herself as a man so she could enter an all-male judo competition at the YMCA sports club. She was 24 years old.

Even though her team won, she was forced to give her medal back for breaking the rules.

It set her off on a life long campaign for women's judo to be properly recognised.

Rusty became a successful competitor and instructor and even married the Japanese national men's coach.

She lobbied tirelessly for women's judo to be included in the Olympic games.

When she finally succeeded at Seoul in 1988, Rusty became known as the "Mother of Judo".

Now, 50 years on, the medal she had removed at the YMCA has finally been returned to her at a special ceremony.

Matthew Bannister spoke to her about that controversial 1959 fight.