An Jeong-hwan

1. Early life and background

An Jeong-hwan's early life and educational journey were significantly shaped by his pursuit of judo, including extensive training in Japan, and his familial ties to prominent figures in the sport.

An Jeong-hwan was born on January 28, 1984, in Daegu, South Korea. At the age of 15, he moved to Japan to continue his judo career, settling in Fukuoka. He attended Oki Gakuen Junior and Senior High School and later graduated from Yamanashi Gakuin University in 2006. His seven years of training in Japan provided a strong foundation for his judo skills, where he learned the fundamental techniques.

1.2. Family and early influences

An Jeong-hwan is the nephew of Ahn Byeong-keun, an Olympic gold medalist in judo and a former director of the South Korean national judo team. This familial connection likely played a role in his early interest and development in the sport, providing him with inspiration and guidance from a prominent figure in the judo community.

2. Judo career

An Jeong-hwan's judo career spanned a successful period as a competitive athlete, where he garnered numerous medals in national and international competitions, before he transitioned into a significant role as a coach for national teams.

2.1. Early career and club affiliation

Upon his graduation from Yamanashi Gakuin University in 2006, An Jeong-hwan returned to South Korea. He subsequently joined the Pohang City Hall judo club, marking the beginning of his professional competitive career in his home country. His affiliation with the municipal club provided him with a stable training environment to further hone his skills.

2.2. Major competitive achievements

An Jeong-hwan competed primarily in the 146 lb ^{(66 kg)} division, achieving numerous notable results throughout his career:

2007: Won a silver medal at the KRA Cup Korea Open International Judo Tournament.
2008: Secured a gold medal at the 3rd East Asian Judo Championships.
2008: Earned a gold medal in the men's 146 lb ^{(66 kg)} division at the 89th National Sports Festival in South Korea.
2008: Achieved a silver medal at the Kano Cup (now known as Grand Slam Tokyo) in the 146 lb ^{(66 kg)} category.
2009: Won a bronze medal at the Judo Grand Slam Paris.
2009: Took home a silver medal at the Asian Judo Championships in Taipei, Taiwan.
2009: Earned a bronze medal in the 146 lb ^{(66 kg)} division at the 2009 World Judo Championships in Rotterdam, Netherlands, a significant achievement on the global stage.
2009: Secured another bronze medal at the Grand Slam Tokyo.
2010: Won a silver medal at the Judo Grand Prix Düsseldorf.
2010: Claimed a gold medal in the men's 146 lb ^{(66 kg)} division at the Grammy Cup National Judo Tournament in South Korea.
2011: Placed fifth in the individual competition and earned a silver medal in the team event at the Military World Games.
2012: Finished fifth at the Judo Grand Prix Düsseldorf.
2012: Placed fifth at the Judo Grand Prix Qingdao.

2.3. Coaching career

After concluding his competitive career, An Jeong-hwan transitioned into coaching, contributing his extensive expertise to national judo programs. In 2014, he was appointed as a coach for the Spanish national team, where he worked with athletes to develop their skills. Following the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, he returned to South Korea and assumed a coaching position for the South Korean national judo team, playing a role in guiding the next generation of Korean judokas.