Japanese Judo champion Ryoko Tani retired from her athletic career on Friday. <br /><br />[Ryoko Tani, Judo Champion]: (female, Japanese) <br />"I've decided to retire from the frontlines of my life as a competitor. I would like to thank all my fans in Japan and all around the world for supporting me from the bottom of their heart for such a long time. I would also like to thank the judo athletes around the world." <br /><br />Tani has been a judo player since she was eight, and has competed in five consecutive summer Olympics since 1992 in Barcelona. <br /><br />She has won two golds, two silvers and one bronze over the past five Olympics. <br /><br />In July 2010, Tani successfully became a member of the ruling of Japan after winning a seat in the upper house election. <br /><br />[Ryoko Tani, Judo Champion]: (female, Japanese) <br />"From now on, I would like to place myself in the political arena in order to promote Japanese sports to the world, and create an environment for sports to grow in Japan." <br /><br />The judo star, also known for her nickname “Yawara,” is an icon in Japan for successfully balancing sports with being a mother of two.
