1. Personal Information
Zhao Shunxin's personal details include her birth date and nationality, along with her physical characteristics relevant to her sport.
1.1. Birth and Background
Zhao Shunxin was born on October 11, 1979. She is a citizen of China and represented her country in judo at the highest levels of international competition.
1.2. Physical Attributes
Zhao Shunxin competed in the 48 kg weight class. She stands at 63 in (160 cm) tall, a common height for athletes in her weight category.
2. Judo Career
Zhao Shunxin's judo career spanned several years, marked by her consistent presence in international tournaments and her pursuit of Olympic qualification.
2.1. Major International Competitions
Zhao Shunxin achieved several significant results in major international judo tournaments. In 2000, she won the gold medal at the German International (also known as the Düsseldorf Grand Prix) in the 48 kg division, defeating Amarilys Savón of Cuba in the final. She continued to perform strongly, securing a gold medal at the 2001 East Asian Games and another gold at the 2001 Korean International (Jeju Grand Prix). In 2001, she also earned a third-place finish at the Fukuoka International Women's Judo Championships. Her success continued into 2003 with a gold medal at the Qingdao International (Qingdao Grand Prix), and in 2004, she placed third at the Asian Judo Championships.
| Year | Competition | Result | Weight Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | German International | 1st | 48 kg |
| 2000 | Sydney Olympics | 5th | 48 kg |
| 2001 | East Asian Games | 1st | 48 kg |
| 2001 | Fukuoka International | 3rd | 48 kg |
| 2001 | Korean International | 1st | 48 kg |
| 2003 | Qingdao International | 1st | 48 kg |
| 2004 | Asian Championships | 3rd | 48 kg |
2.2. 2000 Sydney Olympics
Zhao Shunxin participated in the women's 48 kg judo event at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. In her opening match, she faced the formidable world champion Ryoko Tamura of Japan. The match was closely contested, with both judokas performing nearly equally. However, in the final second of the bout, Tamura managed to score a `yuko` with an `uchimata-gaeshi` (inner thigh throw counter), leading to Zhao's defeat.
Following her initial loss, Zhao Shunxin advanced through the repechage bracket, winning her subsequent matches to reach the bronze medal contest. In the bronze medal match, she competed against Anna-Maria Gradante of Germany. Zhao was ultimately defeated by Gradante via `kouchi gari` (small inner reap), finishing her Olympic campaign in fifth place.
2.3. 2004 Athens Olympics Qualification
Despite her continued success in other international competitions, Zhao Shunxin did not qualify for the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. She lost the representative spot in the 48 kg category to Takamine, who had placed fifth at the 2003 World Judo Championships.