An Ba-ul

The brilliant sportsman An Ba-ul is a judoka, who competes in the -66kg weight class and is ranked as 2nd dan black belt. He is a World Champion, an Asian Games and Asian Championships Champion, a 2x World Masters Champion, a 4x IJF Grand Slam Champion, a 2x Grand Prix Champion, and a 2x Summer Universiade Champion. He has also been ranked N0.1 in the world.

Born and raised in South Korea, An started judo at a young age, and before transitioning to senior level, was a noted junior, taking part in his first international competition at the age of 16 at the 2009 World Cadet Championships in the -55kg weight class. He then moved up to junior level and the -60kg weight class, and at the 2011 World Juniors Championships took Silver. In 2013 at the same event he took Gold. He moved up to the -66kg weight class and competed in his first IJF Grand Prix in 2014, taking Silver.

In 2015 An moved up to senior level competition, and since then he has won six more IJF Grand Prix medals (including two Gold), two Golds at the Summer Universiade, eight medals at the IJF Grand Slam (including four Golds), Gold at the 2018 Asian Games, Gold and two Silvers at the Asian Championships, and Gold and two Bronzes at the World Championships. In 2016 he won Gold at the World Masters, as well as Silver at the Rio Olympics. In 2021 he took his second World masters Gold, and at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took his second Olympic medal when he won Bronze.

An regularly connects with his legions of followers and fans through Instagram, posting pictures and comments about his life both on and off the mat.