Jimmy Pedro

Who is Jimmy Pedro?

James A. Pedro is an American judo competitor who won the World Championships and multiple bronze medals in the Olympics and World Championships.

Pedro was the World Champion at 73 kg in 1998. He won bronze medals in the 1991 and 1995 World Championships.

Pedro represented the United States in the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympic Games, winning bronze in 1996 and 2004. His entry in the "Legends" section of a major judo magazine's web site lists 29 gold medals in international competition.

Pedro retired from competitive judo after the 2004 Olympics. In recent years he has worked for Monster.com, promoted a brand of tatami and zebra used for judo and jujutsu practice and competition, and been the subject of a biographical movie.

He coaches and teaches in Wakefield, Massachusetts. He is the married father of four children.

He is Kayla Harrison's coach. Harrison was the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in judo.