
Kayla Harrison is a prominent figure in the world of combat sports. She aced it as a professional mixed martial artist in PFL as a lightweight competitor. A dominant fighter with a knack for searching for finishes in her mixed martial arts bouts, Harrison had an equally fascinating career in judoka. Before transitioning to mixed martial arts, Harrison was an equally brilliant judoka competitor. She was interested in the combat sport technique and started training at six, flanked by her mother, who herself is a recipient of a black belt. As a teenager, Harrison won two national championships in the discipline. Owing to her decorated and unprecedented success as an American athlete in the discipline, She was inducted into the United States Judo Federation Hall of Fame.
Kayla Harrison ventured into professional mixed martial arts in 2018 by making her debut at PFL 2 against Brittney Elkin in a lightweight showdown. Harrison made quick work of her first professional rival, Elkin, by submitting her in the first round to secure a win. Harrison maintained a flawless career record of 15 wins and 0 losses in her first 15 professional mixed martial arts bouts. Her first loss came against Larissa Pacheco at PFL 10, who defeated her by a unanimous decision.
Kayla Harrison Olympic Medals
Kayla Harrison won two Olympic gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, respectively. She became the only American to achieve this feat. The coveted tournament in 2012 was hosted in London, England, whereas in 2016, it was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Kayla Harrison Judo Record
Kayla Harrison held a brilliant overall record of 208 wins and 50 losses as a competitor in judo. She made her debut in 2009 and featured in her last competition in 2016.
Last updated on May 21, 2025
FAQs on Kayla Harisson's Olympic Gold Medals
A. She has an overall judo record of 208 wins and 50 losses.
A. She has won two Olympic gold medals.
A. She won her Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016.
A. She made her debut in judo in 2009.
A. She started training in judo at the age of 6.