Part 4/16:
A Legacy Rooted in Authenticity
Alan Coj’s background is what truly set him apart. Starting judo at age 22—a relatively late start for an elite athlete—he achieved the rank of black belt in just two and a half years. Over the next decade, he amassed a decade-long record of championships, including two gold medals at the Pan-American Games and a historic bronze at the Montreal Olympics, becoming the first African-American man to win a solo Olympic medal in a sport other than boxing or sprinting.