video: Mass Coach Jimmy Pedro: The Man Behind the Olympian

Thursday, August 02, 2012

Justin Bourke, GoLocal Olympic Contributor

With two Olympic bronze medals under his belt, Jimmy Pedro is one of the most accomplished judoists in US history. Now the Danvers, Massachusetts resident looks to coach his USA team to an historic first-ever gold medal for judo at the London Olympics.

But to one athlete, Jimmy is more than a coach. Kayla Harrison, a world champion and America's top contender for gold, came to Jimmy's dojo at the age of 16. Her previous coach had been sexually abusing her for three years.

"Jimmy not only focused on me as an athlete and the potential that I had, but me as a person," says Harrison. "I can stand up for myself, and he gave me that."

Kayla makes her Olympic debut on August 2nd.