For the past 14 years, Hannah Martin has been competing in judo on the world stage, including earning World Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, and over 20 international medals during her career. She returned to international competition after having her daughter in 2021, saying “I still had a fire in me.”
While Hannah ultimately did not make the Paris Games, she is now working with the European Judo Union while living the expat life in Germany with her husband and three-year-old daughter.
We spoke to Hannah about motherhood, retiring from competition, and more.
What made you return to competition in 2021?
I saw this as a new challenge and wanted to see if I could still compete at the highest level as a mom. I wanted to prove to myself and others that it is absolutely possible to accomplish your goals as a mother. Motherhood doesn’t hold you back; it makes you stronger!
Love that! What’s the toughest part of raising a family as an ex-pat?
The biggest struggle is not having family support nearby when we need it. My daughter essentially grew up in the dojo; I started bringing her to judo when she was just 3 months old. For the first few years of her life, she spent most of her time with me at training. While it sounds pretty cool, it was incredibly challenging for my husband and me, as he is a judo coach and I was training simultaneously.
On the positive side, We have a very international household: her father is Portuguese and speaks Portuguese to her, I am American and speak English with her, and she attends Kita (daycare) where she learns German. She is exposed to multiple cultures and languages from a young age, which I believe will greatly benefit her in the future.
You recently retired. What’s your plan now?
I am finding different ways to give back to the sport. Judo has been a part of my life since I was 8 years old, and I don’t want to just walk away from it. Over the past few years, I’ve been working with the European Judo Union as part of their media team, and I plan to continue exploring opportunities in that area. I also want to start coaching, particularly focusing on junior female athletes. Balancing high-level competition with family life is really demanding, and it was putting a big strain on my relationship. As my daughter is getting older, I want to be more present for her. This new phase allows me to stay connected to judo, while prioritizing family.
Love your social – who do you love following?
Clarisse Agbegnenou—a judoka, 6x world champion, Olympic champion and also a mother! She is competing in Paris [Ed Note: She won Bronze!], and she is a great representative for not only judo but for athlete moms!
Why is judo a great sport for kids?
I would say a good age to start is around 6 or 7. Judo is a great sport for kids because it’s fun! You learn how to use your whole body, it teaches children confidence, respect, discipline, as well as it helps develop communication skills and friendships because you always have to work with a partner to do judo. I think judo is really for everyone, and that is what makes the sport so great.
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