Mika Sugimoto

Sport: Judo

Nation: Japan

DOB: August 27, 1984

Career Highlights: Sugimoto continues to be a force in judo, and she's looking to parlay her staggering success into a breakout performance at her first Olympics. She earned two gold medals at the 2010 world championships in Tokyo, winning in the 78-plus kilogram division and the Openweight category. She followed with a pair of bronze medals at the 2011 worlds in the same categories, defeating fellow Japanese Olympian Megumi Tachimoto for third place in the 78-plus kilogram weight class. Sugimoto is also the reigning Asian champion, taking the gold medal in 2010 by defeating China's Qian Qin, who is also considered a contender for gold in London. Sugimoto lost the most recent meeting with Qian at the International Judo Federation’s World Masters tournament in January, finishing third.

Olympic History: None