Friday, July 19, 2024 – NPR Morning Edition
Exciting news! Eve Aronoff-Trivella and Dr. Jean Kanokogi will be featured on NPR Morning Edition at 6:20 AM and 8:20 AM EST today. In this special segment, they will delve into their upbringing and training under the legendary Rusty Kanokogi, affectionately known as the Mother of Women’s Judo.
Mark your calendars for a full-length podcast episode airing on either July 30th or August 6th, 2024. This podcast will take an in-depth look at Rusty Kanokogi's remarkable life, showcasing how an ordinary person achieved extraordinary feats and significantly advanced women's sports equality, particularly in judo. These broadcasts will provide a deeply human perspective on the victories, defeats, and myriad emotions that pioneers and high-level competitive athletes experience on their journey.
Eve Aronoff-Trivella, a renowned fitness and health trainer, will share her reflections on the profound emotions she and Rusty felt during the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, where women’s judo was included for the first time thanks to Rusty’s unrelenting fight. She will also recount a lifetime of behind-the-scenes experiences with Rusty that shaped her life and career.
Dr. Jean Kanokogi, the Director of Mental Health for the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, has lived through the struggle for women's judo equality. Known as the "daughter" of women’s judo, she witnessed and supported her mother's relentless efforts to rectify injustices and create a level playing field for women in sports, especially judo. Through her mother’s legacy, she learned to advocate for the voiceless, to recognize the wrongs of discrimination, and to understand that success requires relentless effort and dedication.
Rusty Kanokogi's journey to equality began in 1959 when women were barred from competing in judo. After disguising herself as a man and winning a gold medal against a larger, stronger opponent, Rusty had her victory stripped away upon the revelation of her gender. This moment ignited her determination to ensure no woman would ever endure such indignity again. Rusty dedicated herself to this cause, taking on formidable challenges, mortgaging her family home, and allying with supporters to fight for equality.
Eve and Dr. Jean have trained together since childhood, sharing a bond and friendship fostered by their mutual dedication to judo. As judo sisters and former members of the US National Judo Team, their story is a testament to the unbreakable bonds formed through the sport.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear their inspiring story on NPR Morning Edition. Tune in and be inspired to always, "Get Up & Fight!" (Get the full story www.rustykanokogi.com)
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