"Knowing what I know now, maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t make it (to the Olympics).
Because I had not, I now know so much more than I did."
Leilani Akiyama's judo story is one of perseverance. Having begun judo in Japan, she has chased her dream of going to the Olympics through countless training camps, countries and dropped a weight division to give herself the best possible chance for Tokyo 2020.
Akiyama v Crudes, Antalya Grand Prix 2018