Guusje Steenhuis

2.1. Birth and background

Guusje Steenhuis was born on October 27, 1992, in Grave, Netherlands.

2.2. Junior achievements

Steenhuis's junior career was marked by consistent progress and notable successes. In 2010, she earned a silver medal at the European Junior Judo Championships in Samokov, and the following year, she clinched the gold medal at the European Junior Judo Championships held in Lommel. Her performance extended to the global stage in 2011, where she secured a bronze medal at the World Judo Juniors Championships in Cape Town. Moving into the U23 category, Steenhuis added another bronze medal to her collection at the European U23 Judo Championships in Samokov in 2013. Additionally, she won the Belgian International in 2011, placed second at the European Open Minsk in 2013, and secured a gold medal at the European Open Warsaw in 2014. In 2012, she earned a bronze medal at the World Cup in Rome.

3.1. Progression and key moments

In 2014, Steenhuis earned a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Baku and a silver medal at the Grand Prix Qingdao. She also competed in the 2014 European Judo Championships, finishing in fifth place. The year 2015 saw significant breakthroughs for Steenhuis. After finishing fifth at the Grand Prix Düsseldorf, she secured her first major Grand Slam title at the Grand Slam Baku, where she notably defeated Japan's Akari Ogata in the final. She followed this with a bronze medal at the 2015 European Games in Baku and another Grand Slam gold at the Grand Slam Tyumen, overcoming Japan's Ruka Sato. Later that year, she earned a bronze at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi and a silver at the Grand Slam Tokyo, where she lost to American judoka Kayla Harrison in the final. At the 2015 World Judo Championships, she was defeated by Japan's Mami Umeki in the third round.

In 2016, Steenhuis continued to collect medals, including a bronze at the Grand Prix Düsseldorf, a silver at the Grand Prix Tbilisi, and a silver at the European Championships in Kazan. She then won gold at the Grand Slam Baku, a bronze at the World Masters in Guadalajara, a silver at the Grand Prix Zagreb, and another gold at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi. Despite her strong performances, Steenhuis was not selected for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as fellow Dutch judoka and World Championship bronze medalist Marhinde Verkerk was chosen for the same weight class.

The year 2017 brought further success, with a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Paris, gold at the Grand Slam Baku, and silver at the European Championships in Warsaw. She also secured a bronze at the World Masters in Saint Petersburg, a bronze at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi, and a gold at the Grand Prix The Hague. Her year concluded with a silver medal at the Grand Slam Tokyo. In 2018, she earned a silver at the Grand Slam Paris and a bronze at the Grand Prix Budapest. Her most significant achievement that year was a silver medal at the 2018 World Judo Championships in Baku, where she endured a prolonged nine-minute final match against Japan's Shori Hamada before losing by a penalty. In 2018, Steenhuis was ranked World Number 1 for two consecutive years. She closed the year with a gold at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi.

In 2019, Steenhuis won a silver medal at the European Games in Minsk, which also served as the 2019 European Judo Championships. She also took a bronze medal at the Grand Slam Abu Dhabi. She continued her medal haul in 2021, securing a bronze at the World Masters in Doha. A few months later, she earned a silver medal at the European Championships in Lisbon. At the 2021 World Judo Championships in Budapest, she reached the semi-finals but was defeated by reigning world champion Madeleine Malonga of France. She went on to win the bronze medal by defeating Marhinde Verkerk in the bronze medal match.

Her achievements in 2022 included a silver medal at the European Championships in Sofia, a bronze at the Grand Slam Baku, and another bronze at the World Masters in Jerusalem. In 2023, she won a bronze at the Grand Slam Paris. At the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha, she reached the semi-finals but lost to Audrey Tcheumeo by a waza-ari, subsequently winning a bronze medal. She also earned a bronze medal in the mixed team event at the 2023 World Judo Championships. She finished seventh at the Grand Slam Tokyo in 2023. In 2024, she secured a bronze at the Grand Slam Paris, a gold at the Grand Slam Baku, and a silver at the Grand Slam Tbilisi.

3.2. Olympic participation

Guusje Steenhuis has represented the Netherlands in the Olympic Games on two occasions, competing in the women's -78 kg event.
At the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo, Japan, she finished in seventh place.
She also competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France, where she again placed seventh in her category. In the mixed team event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she and her team finished in fifth place.

3.3. World and European Championships

Steenhuis has been a consistent medalist at both the World and European Championships, demonstrating her sustained performance at the elite level.

At the World Judo Championships, she has secured multiple medals:

• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2018 World Judo Championships in Baku.
• Bronze medal in the -78 kg category at the 2021 World Judo Championships in Budapest.
• Bronze medal in the -78 kg category at the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha.
• Bronze medal in the mixed team event at the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha.

In European competitions, including the European Games which incorporate the European Judo Championships, she has an impressive record:

• Bronze medal in the -78 kg category at the 2015 European Games in Baku.
• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2016 European Judo Championships in Kazan.
• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2017 European Judo Championships in Warsaw.
• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2019 European Games (also the 2019 European Judo Championships) in Minsk.
• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2021 European Judo Championships in Lisbon.
• Silver medal in the -78 kg category at the 2022 European Judo Championships in Sofia.

3.4. IJF World Tour activities

Guusje Steenhuis has been a prominent figure on the IJF World Tour, participating extensively in Judo World Masters, Judo Grand Slam, and IJF Grand Prix events, where she has achieved numerous podium finishes.

Her achievements on the IJF World Tour include:

• World Masters:** Bronze medals at the 2016 Guadalajara, 2017 Saint Petersburg, 2021 Doha, and 2022 Jerusalem World Masters events.
• Grand Slams:** Seven gold medals (2015 Baku, 2015 Tyumen, 2016 Baku, 2016 Abu Dhabi, 2017 Baku, 2018 Abu Dhabi, 2024 Baku), five silver medals (2015 Tokyo, 2017 Tokyo, 2018 Paris, 2022 Antalya, 2024 Tbilisi), and eight bronze medals (2014 Baku, 2015 Abu Dhabi, 2017 Paris, 2017 Abu Dhabi, 2019 Abu Dhabi, 2022 Baku, 2023 Paris, 2024 Paris).
• Grand Prix:** One gold medal (2017 The Hague), three silver medals (2014 Qingdao, 2016 Tbilisi, 2016 Zagreb), and two bronze medals (2016 Düsseldorf, 2018 Budapest).

4.1. World Championships medals

4.2. European Championships and European Games medals

4.3. IJF World Tour medals

4.4. Junior and U23 medals

5.1. Public identity

Guusje Steenhuis is openly lesbian, a fact she has publicly confirmed. This aspect of her identity is part of the broader representation of LGBT athletes in professional sports.

6.1. Impact and recognition

Steenhuis's consistent performance and medal record have made her a recognized figure within the judo community. Her ability to repeatedly reach podiums at World Championships, European Championships, and IJF World Tour events demonstrates her enduring skill and competitive spirit. Her achievements, including multiple Grand Slam golds and a world championship silver, contribute to her legacy as a top-tier athlete.

6.2. World ranking and records

Guusje Steenhuis has maintained a high standing in the IJF world rankings throughout her career. Notably, she held the World Number 1 ranking for two consecutive years in 2018, reflecting her dominance in the -78 kg division during that period. As of July 22, 2024, she holds the 5th position in the IJF world ranking with 3372 points.