July - 2016
SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
18
Nick Delpopolo – Rio Redemption
Article By: Melissa Ingram
Photo Credit Bellawood Photography and Institute of Human Performance (IHP)
In 2009 when Judoka Nick Delpopolo
transitioned from junior to senior ath-
lete he was only positioned at #99 in the
world rankings. Driven by his desire to
compete in the Olympics, he soon took
the Judoka world by storm. Delpopolo
moved up an amazing 83 spots, rising to
#16 in the world, and finishing 2010 as
the top medal winner in his division.
Delpopolo continued to pour his heart
and soul into the sport. He trained and
competed all over the world in his quest
to become a top-ranked Judoka and his
hard work paid off. He continued to rise
in the rankings and by 2012 was ranked
#1 in the United States and #16 in the
world. That same year Delpopolo realized
his dream of making the USA Judo Olym-
pic Team.
Many predicted that he would become
the first American Judoka to bring home
gold at the Olympic Games, a dream of
Delpopolo’s since he was 7 years old. Af-
ter all, his remarkable journey embodied
the American Dream. He went from living
in poverty in an orphanage in Montene-
gro, to coming to the land of opportunity
and becoming an Olympian.
Heading to the Olympic Games in Lon-
don, Delpopolo was on top of the world.
He had an entire Nation rooting for him,
and becoming the first American Judoka
to win gold at the Olympics was his for
the taking. Yet an unexpected turn of
events would turn Delpopolo’s world up-
side-down and put his dreams of Olympic
gold out of reach (at least temporarily).
Delpopolo was the first of the 10,500
London Games athletes to fail an in-com-
petition doping test. He was immediately
expelled from the games and put on a
plane home. Delpopolo was as in disbe-
lief when he received the call. He was cer-
tain the IOC was mistaken, that an error
must have been made, but that was not
the case. Delpopolo had unknowingly
ingested a brownie that contained mari-
juana at a going away party he attended
a few weeks prior.
Delpopolo faced a great deal of criti-
cism following the announcement, not
only from the media and fans, but from
the entire Judo community. Mentors,
coaches and teammates that once gave
Nick their unwavering support, quickly
shunned him from their circles. He lost
many sponsors, including an athletic club
run by people he knew his whole life.
In the days andweeks following his abrupt
dismissal from the 2012 Olympic Games,
