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LONDON -- When the judo events kick off at the Rio de Janeiro games, the home team will send out a defending Olympic champion on the first day of competition.With five other top-ranked judoka on its Olympic team, Brazil has a particularly strong home advantage. Although judo has traditionally been dominated by the Japanese, who created the modern martial art, the combat sport has become truly universal. That means the Japanese team, which won only a single gold medal at London in its worst-ever Olympic showing -- is no longer the favorite.Marius Vizer, president of the International Judo Federation, said he expects to see more unexpected winners at Rio.I think Mongolia will be the big surprise of the Olympic games, he said. Vizer also noted strong fighters from the U.S., Greece, Georgia, France, Russia, Cuba and South Korea. There will also be two refugee competitors, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, competing under the International Olympic Committee flag.Vizer said some rule changes to judo -- including the outlawing of leg grabs -- were made to distinguish the sport from others like wrestling and will hopefully inspire more fighters to attempt the big throws judo is known for. Fights can be won instantly if judoka flip their opponents flat on their back with considerable force and speed.While some have criticized the rule changes arguing that they favor the Japanese style of judo, which focuses on throws rather than the groundwork component of judo, Vizer said the tweaks are necessary to modernize the sport.Countries with a strong wrestling tradition, such as those in Eastern Europe and Brazil, have typically produced judo fighters who win once judo fighters end up on the ground. Thats when competitors struggle to either pin their opponents for 20 seconds or force them to tap out by applying a stranglehold or an armbar, a move where the limb is hyperextended to the point it might break.RETURNING STARFrenchman Teddy Riner is simply the most successful judoka of all time. The 27-year-old heavyweight has won a record eight world championship titles, five European titles and two Olympic medals, including a gold at the London games. At 6-foot-8 inches, Riner strikes an imposing figure on the judo mat but moves surprisingly fast for a heavyweight. Riner tends to dominate by throwing his big right arm over his opponents head to take control of the fight, and very few of his competitors have been able to prevent Riner from securing a dominant grip on their uniforms.BEST RIVALRYAfter becoming the first American to win a judo gold medal, Kayla Harrison will be looking to defend her title in Rio. Her biggest roadblock might be longtime rival Brazilian Mayra Aguiar, who defeated Harrison at a Paris competition earlier this year with a match-ending throw. The two have now fought 16 times -- and split the victories evenly. At a world cup final in Sao Paolo several years ago where Harrison won over Aguiar on penalties, she was booed by the local crowd. Harrison described Brazilian judo fans as wild after the experience. Good thing I dont speak Portuguese, because if I did, I might cry.OLYMPIAN EFFORTTwo judoka athletes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be fighting as part of the IOC refugee team in Rio. Yolande Bukasa Mabika will be competing in the womens 70-kilogram division and Popole Misenga will be fighting in the mens 90-kilogram division. The two are currently training in Brazil. Misenga sought asylum in Brazil when he arrived to compete in the world championships being held there and credits the technical training he has received with making him a better fighter.You cant let people think that just because they are refugees, they have to stop what theyre doing, he said. Even though they are refugees, they need to continue practicing their sport.---Rachel Cohen in New York contributed to this report.Wholesale NFL Jerseys . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Cheap NFL Jerseys . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. https://www.cheapnfljerseysjustwholesale.com/cheap-college-jerseys . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Cheap Jerseys . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. Cheap NBA Jerseys . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games.The NFL usually frowns on customized footwear, but that will change this Sunday, as hundreds of NFL players will be wearing custom-designed cleats to support charitable foundations and raise awareness of important causes.When it comes to charity and sacrifice, there are no best or worst designs, no brand loyalties, no My kicks are better than your kicks -- all of these cleats are winners. Still, some are particularly notable, either for their visual impact or for the storylines behind them. Here are a dozen that have caught your friendly uniform columnists eye this week:Von Miller, BroncosMiller, who has worn glasses since the second grade, has a foundation called Vons Vision, which provides low-income Denver children with the eye care and corrective eyewear. His cleats feature an eye-catching eye chart motif. Additional info here.Vernon Davis, WashingtonDavis always had an artistic impulse but kept it under wraps as a kid because other children ridiculed him. He now has a personal foundation that promotes art education and appreciation among disadvantaged youth. His cleats have a paint-splatter theme that nicely captures the spirit of artistic improvisation. Additional info here.Devin McCourty, Patriots, and Jason McCourty, TitansTwin brothers Devin and Jason McCourty have sickle cell disease in their family, and they have a foundation devoted to battling the disease. Their custom cleats show the foundations logo along with both brothers, in uniform, defending a pass. Devin will wear his shoes this Sunday, while Jason will have to wait until Week 14, because the Titans have a bye this week. Additional info here.Doug Baldwin, SeahawksBaldwin represents the Southern Youth Sports Association, whose logo is a tiger -- hence the tiger stripes on the cleats hell be wearing this Sunday. Although Baldwin plays for the Seahawks, it seems like a safe bet that everyone on the Bengals will soon be clamoring for a design like this one.Brock Osweiler, TexansOsweiler is showing his support for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides assistance to families with sick children. His cleats have a nice design element: If the two shoes are positioned together side by side, McDonalds signature golden arches are formed.Aaron Rodgers, PackersRodgers supports the MACC Fund -- thats Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. The organizations logo features a green child and a gold child, so Rodgers will wear one green shoe and one gold shoe -- which should also mesh nicely with Green Bays color scheme.Ben Roethlisberger, SteelersHeres another case of a big-name quarterback wholl be wearing two different-colored shoes. Roethliisbergers personal foundation supports police and fire departments, with a particular emphasis on K-9 units and service dogs, which explains the K-9 logo on his cleats.dddddddddddd Not the flashiest design youll see this Sunday, but the mismatched colors should definitely stand out.Johnny Hekker, RamsHas any NFL player ever worn a cleat with a two-tone paint job, split down the center? Its a really sharp look, and Hekker will be wearing it in support of Waterboys, a group that partners with NFL players to provide clean drinking water to rural East African communities.Cameron Jordan, SaintsThe United Way and the NFL have been partners for generations. The nonprofit groups blue, red and orange logo is a perfect fit for the color scheme on Jordans cleats -- nicely done.Pierre Gar?on, WashingtonGar?on, who is Haitian-American, has a foundation that supports sustainable initiatives in Haiti. With its vibrant colors and silhouetted logo, this will be one of the boldest designs of the week. Additional info here.Ezekiel Elliott, CowboysElliott already wore his custom cleats in last nights game against the Vikings, but theyre too good not to include here. Elliott is a lifelong animal lover, so his cleats supported the SPCA of Texas and featured paw prints and dog bones, along with a portrait of Elliotts own dog, Ace. Additional info here. (Elliott isnt the only player using his feet to support our four-footed friends. Check out the pair being worn on Sunday by Logan Ryan of the Patriots.)Stefon Diggs, VikingsThis is another one from last night. Diggs supported the American Heart Association with a design that showed the inner workings of a human heart, complete with veins, valves and more. Very anatomical! (Several other players are also representing the AHA on their cleats with more conventional but nonetheless powerful designs, like this pair being worn by Saints Brandin Cooks of the Saints.)For additional photos and information on the custom-designed cleats that players will be wearing this week, look here and here, and follow the hashtag #MyCauseMyCleats.Paul Lukas, if he were playing in the NFL this week, would wear cleats supporting the Southern Poverty Law Center. If you like this column, youll probably like his Uni Watch Blog, plus you can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program or Uni Watch T-Shirt Club, be added to his mailing list so youll always know when a new column has been posted, or just ask him a question? Contact him here. ' ' '