RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When Hungarian native Szandra Szogedi steps onto the judo mat at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she'll be making history as the first-ever female judoka to represent Ghana.
Born in Budapest, Szogedi started judo at age 11, after a friend of her father's recommended the sport. With a background in gymnastics, Szogedi adapted quickly to the dynamic flips and groundwork characteristic of the Japanese martial art.
After just six months, Szogedi won a silver medal at Hungary's national championships.
"I was hooked," she told the Associated Press in a recent interview.