The Rise of Nancy

Student to Watch

Nancy Nguyen is a rising star in the world of Judo and a Junior Electrical Engineering student at San Jose State University (SJSU) where she also trains full-time with the SJSU Judo team. Nancy has had a phenomenal year in 2024. Let’s take a peek at the rise of Nancy!

In April 2024, Nancy captured her first Junior European Cup title at the Podgorica Junior European Cup in Montenegro. Competing in the -70 kg weight class defeating a field of strong competitors to win the gold medal.

Following her European triumph, Nancy competed at the prestigious New York Judo Open Team tournament, representing the New York Athletic Club, Team USA & SJSU Judo. Nancy won 2 matches against Poland & Germany in the team format, helping the NYAC win a bronze!

She went on to win a repeat bronze medal at the 2024 USA Judo Senior Nationals a month later.

At the 2024 National Collegiate Judo Association Championships, Nancy clinched gold in the -70 kg category, contributing significantly to the team’s overall success.

Most recently, Nancy earned direct qualification for the 2024 Junior and Cadet World Championships in Peru in August with her gold medal win at the USA Judo Junior Olympic National Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa. This is a great opportunity for Nancy to be tested on the world stage.

With the 2028 Summer Olympics set to be hosted in Los Angeles, Nancy has a unique opportunity to qualify for the Games and compete on home soil if she can maintain her current trajectory. The journey to the Olympics is undoubtedly challenging, requiring rigorous training, international competition experience, and mental fortitude. However, Nancy’s successes in 2024 indicate that she has the potential to meet these challenges head-on. As she continues her studies at SJSU, Nancy remains focused on her long-term goal of competing in LA28.