Madison Metropolitan School District seventh-grader Iliyan Hoskins will go to Lima, Peru, to represent Team USA at the Pan American Judo Championship this week.
Hoskins is a student at Ray F. Sennett Middle School who has been practicing judo since he was 4 years old. He is rated as one of the country’s top young competitors in the sport, was ranked the nation’s number one junior athlete while under his former coach, Os Millan, and has earned nine national championships.
The tournament brings top young athletes from North, Central and South America to compete in one of the highest levels of judo.
Hoskins will compete in the male 47 kg division (about 104 pounds) after winning the national championship in June. At his age, the Pan American championship is the highest level of competition.
“My goal is to keep getting better and compete in international tournaments where I can represent my country,” Hoskins said in a statement. “I like pushing myself and seeing how far I can go. Judo teaches me discipline and respect. Winning feels amazing, but even when I don’t win, I learn something that makes me better.”
Hopkins currently trains under former world champion Gela Kelikhashvili, who told Madison365 that Hoskins has his sights set on winning America’s first Olympic medal in men’s judo — a feat that Kelikhashvili thinks Hoskins has the potential to do.
“His dedication, and the way he loves judo, and the way he’s training, I think it’s possible,” Kelikhashvili said.
Hoskins will compete at the Pan Judo American Judo Championship Dec. 5-6. It can be viewed via JudoTV with a subscription.
Robert Chappell contributed to his report.
