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Mimi Huh (left) faces Christa Deguchi in the Women’s 57kg judo final. (Photo by Kyodo News; Featured image also by Kyodo News)

On July 29, South Korean national judo team member and Vice-captain of the Waseda University Judo Club Mimi Huh (4th year, School of Sport Sciences; Japanese name: Mimi Ikeda) advanced to the women’s 57kg final at the Paris Olympics, where she faced Christa Deguchi (Canada). After a close match, she was narrowly defeated, but managed to secure the silver medal.

This is the second time that an athlete associated with Waseda University has won a medal in judo at the Olympics, following alumna Chiaki Ishii (representing Brazil) at the 1972 Munich Games, and the first time for a current student.

From Left: Mimi Huh (silver), Christa Deguchi (gold) Haruka Funakubo (bronze) Sarah Leonie Cysique (bronze)

In terms of both sports and studies, Huh has said she admired Waseda University, and so she enrolled in Waseda’s School of Sport Sciences and joined the Waseda University Judo Club. At Waseda she goes by her Japanese name Mimi Ikeda and competed in the Waseda-Keio judo tournament. Recently she has made rapid progress and won the gold medal at the World Judo Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE, in May 2024, defeating Deguchi in the women’s 57kg event. 

A comment from Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka

Mimi Huh, a current student and Vice-captain of Waseda University’s Judo Club, won the silver medal in the Women’s 57kg judo event at the Paris Olympics. Congratulations.

She trains in our University’s co-ed Judo Club and has made rapid progress since entering the university, leading to her being selected to represent South Korea. She is also studying hard while traveling between South Korea and Japan. I would like to express my respect for her efforts and determination and offer my heartfelt congratulations.

Huh’s younger sister is also second-year student in the School of Sport Sciences and a member of the Judo Club, so we look forward to the success of both sisters in the future.

Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka

A comment from Seiji Nishida, the Women’s Coach of the Waseda University Judo Club

Congratulations, Mimi Ikeda, for winning the silver medal.

This is the first time in 52 years that a member of the Waseda University Judo Club has won a medal at the Olympics since Chiaki Ishii (Brazil) won a bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

With great admiration for both the athletics and the academics, Ikeda entered Waseda University’s School of Sport Sciences and the Judo Club. At the University, she has even pursued her interests in sports other than judo (for example, track and field, weightlifting lectures, and so on) by studying them and attending lectures, applying what she learned to judo. She also increased her physical strength through training camps in South Korea, consecutive overseas tours, and training with our co-ed team. Her efforts led to her winning a gold medal at the World Championships in May this year and her success at the Paris Olympics.

I believe that the fact that a current member of our club won an Olympic silver medal is a source of pride for the Waseda University Judo Club and gives great hope to club members and students at Waseda University.

I look forward to Ikeda’s further success on the final day during the national team competition, where she will be representing South Korea.

Waseda University Judo Club, Women’s Coach Seiji Nishida

Athletes who competed against Huh and match results
Judo Women’s 57kg Mimi Huh（School of Sport Sciences, 4^th year, Waseda University Judo Club Vice-captain、Japanese name: Mimi Ikeda), Silver medal

3^rd Round　　○10−0　Timna Nelson Levy（Israel）
Quarterfinal　　○1−0　 Enkhriilen Lkhagvatogoo（Mongolia）
Semifinal　　○1－0　Rafaela Silva（Brazil）
Final　　●0―10　Christa Deguchi（Canada）