Mashu Baker

Born on September 25, 1994, in Tokyo, Japan, Mashu Baker began his judo journey at the age of seven. Raised by his mother after his parents’ divorce, Baker developed his skills, favoring the Ouchi Gari technique. His early career saw him establish a strong competitive record, leading to numerous national and international accolades. He attended Tokai University, continuing to hone his judo abilities and setting the stage for a prominent career in the sport. Baker’s consistent performance and dedication led him to become a key figure in Japanese judo.

Baker’s career progressed significantly with his first major international success capturing a gold medal at the Grand Slam Tokyo in 2013 in the -90 kg category. This was followed by a bronze medal at the 2015 World Judo Championships. The pinnacle of his career came in 2016 when he won the gold medal in the men’s -90 kg judo at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. He also secured gold at the IJF World Masters Guadalajara in the same year, solidifying his position as a top judoka. His competitive record includes multiple Grand Slam victories and consistent medal finishes across various tournaments, demonstrating his sustained excellence on the global stage.

Following his Olympic victory, Baker continued to compete, earning a silver medal at the Grand Slam Düsseldorf in 2018 and a gold at the Grand Prix Montreal in 2019. He also claimed a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games in the -90 kg category and a gold in the mixed team event. Even after a shoulder injury, he returned to competition, reflecting his enduring commitment to judo. His career highlights include a total of 32 wins and 4 losses in official judo matches, with 18 wins by Ippon, a testament to his technical prowess and strategic approach.