Lynn Roethke


Lynn Joyce Roethke is an American female judoka competitor. Among her most notable accomplishments, Lynn is a two-time Olympic athlete, a Pan American gold medalist, and World Champion Silver medalist. She was the first female to be inducted to the Black Belt Hall of Fame and voted as Olympic Athlete of the Year. She competed in the −61 kg division for most of her competitive career.

Olympics

Roethke is a two-time US Olympic competitor for judo. Lynn competed in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea where she would win the silver medal in the -61 kg division. This would make her the first American woman to compete in the finals. During these Olympics, women's judo was a demonstration sport, therefore did not count towards the USA's total medal count. Lynn was also a member of the Olympic team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Lynn is also a Pan American Games Champion in Sambo.

World Championships

Ms. Roethke won the silver medal in the 1987 World Judo Championships in Essen, West Germany. She was defeated by Diane Bell of GBR in the −61 kg division.

Pan American Games

Roethke won the gold medal in the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis. She defeated Natasha Hernandez in the −61 kg division.
Ms. Roethke won the silver medal in the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. She was defeated by Illeana Beltran in the −61 kg division.

US National Championships

Roethke won the gold medal during 9 US National Championships.
Bronze Medal
Lynn currently owns and operates Club Olympia in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where she is a certified trainer and runs her own dojo, Club Olympia Judo. She is an eighth degree black belt.