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Steve Cohen (judoka)

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Steve Cohen
Personal information
Full nameSteven Jay Cohen
BornAugust 29, 1955 (1955-08-29) (age 69)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Medal record
Men's Judo
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Mexico City Middleweight (-80 kg)
Maccabiah Games
Gold medal – first place 1973 Israel 176 pounds

Steven Jay "Steve" Cohen (born August 29, 1955) is an American former Olympic judoka and Olympic coach. He won the US National Judo Championships in 1974, 1975, 1977, 1985, and 1987. He won a gold medal at the 1973 Maccabiah Games, a bronze medal at the 1975 Pan American Games, and a silver medal at the 1986 Goodwill Games.

Early and personal life

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Cohen was born in Chicago, Illinois, and is Jewish.[1] He taught judo at his own club, and became CEO of food ingredient company Z-Trim Holdings.[2] He lives in Grayslake, Illinois.[3] Cohen's brother Irwin Cohen and two nephews Aaron Cohen and Richard are all accomplished judoka.

Judo career

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Cohen is a 7th-degree black belt.[2]

He won a gold medal at the 1973 Maccabiah Games in Israel in judo, at 176 pounds.[4][5]

He won the US National Judo Championships in 1974 (U93), 1975 (U80), 1977 (U78), 1985 (O95), and 1987 (O95).[6][7]

Cohen won the bronze medal in the -80kg division at the 1975 Pan American Games.[8]

In 1986 he won a silver medal at the Goodwill Games as a heavyweight.[2]

He came out of retirement and competed as a member of the 1988 Olympic Judo team for the United States as a heavyweight at 33 years of age, and came in 13th.[2] He competed in the 95kg division.[9]

Coaching career

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He was the coach of the Olympic team in 2000.[2][10][11][12]

He now coaches judo.[3] Among his students have been five-time US champion Aaron Cohen, three-time Olympian and Pam American Games bronze medalist Colleen Rosensteel, two-time Olympian and Pan American Games bronze medalist Martin Boonzaayer, junior world champion and two-time Olympian Hillary Wolf, and Olympic silver medalist Robert Berland.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Renowned Olympian, judo coach from Buffalo Grove dies". Daily Herald. August 28, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Steven Jay COHEN," Olympics.com.
  3. ^ a b c "Martial Arts Training Legend: Steve Cohen". Cohen Brothers Training Centers.
  4. ^ "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. December 26, 1973 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. October 26, 1974 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Steve Cohen Judoka". JudoInside.
  7. ^ "Winners of Individual and Team Championships During 1977". The New York Times. December 18, 1977.
  8. ^ "Steve Cohen". Judoinside. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  9. ^ "US Olympic Judo Teams 1964 to present".
  10. ^ "Irwin Cohen Judo Olympian and Judo Icon Passes Away". Archived from the original on August 28, 2012.
  11. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Steven Cohen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  12. ^ "Obit of the Day: Hey Judoka". Retrieved September 12, 2016.
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