Korean An Chang-Rim has retired. The 27-year old World Champion of 2018 and Olympic bronze medallist announced his retirement at social media and applied for any kind of judo related job in the future abroad.
“2021 will be my last year as a member of the Korean national team as I will be retiring this year. Thank you IJF and Judo Community all over the world supporting me. I will now center my life around my family, happiness, health”, started Chang-Rim.
“I will now focus on becoming a good coach and training next Olympic gold medallists. I’m open to working abroad so please get in touch with me via email (or other mediums) if you’re interested in working with me!”
“I’m also interested in doing seminars as well so please make sure to reach me.”
An Chang-Rim was always battling with Shohei Ono at the major Championships. He claimed a world title in Baku in 2018 after having won bronze in 2015 and 2017.
An finished with bronze at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in July. An was World Junior Champion in 2014 in Miami and became World #1 in the IJF World Ranking U73kg.
He was born in Japan, his parents live in Kyoto. He won the Grand Slams in Abu Dhabi and Paris (2016) and Grand Prix events in Jeju, Hohhot and Antalya. This year he took the gold at the IJF World Masters in Doha.