BEIJING, Sept. 19 -- Former Olympic champion Xian Dongmei has been recognized by the International Judo Federation (IJF) Hall of Fame, the Chinese Judo Association announced here on Wednesday.
The IJF inducted 19 luminaries from the sport into its Hall of Fame on Tuesday night in Baku, Azerbaijan ahead of the 2018 World Judo Championships which will start on Thursday.
Xian, 43, won Olympic titles in 2004 in Athens and in 2008 in Beijing and is now the president of the Chinese Judo Association.
"Judo taught me to be modest, to constantly challenge myself and to believe in myself. It has shaped my character and made me what I am today," Xian said on Wednesday.
"I won my first Olympic gold medal in 2004 and had my baby daughter three years later when I was 32. Then, in 2008, I returned to the court and got my second Olympic gold medal... Now, as the president of the Chinese Judo Association, I will do my best to promote Judo in China and around the world."