An Chang-rim

{{Infobox judoka

|name = An Changrim

|native_name = 안창림
安昌林

|image = Anchangrim.jpg

|image_size =

|caption =

|nationality = South Korean

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|3|2|df=y}}

|birth_place = Kyoto, Japan

|alma_mater = University of Tsukuba
Yongin University

|hometown = Seoul, South Korea

|height = 170 cm

|country = {{KOR}}

|weight_class = –73 kg

|dan = 2

|team = South Korea National Team
Suwon City Hall

|coach = Song Dae-nam

|retired = 5 December 2021{{cite news |title=2018 World Champion An-Chang-Rim retires |url=https://www.judoinside.com/news/5005 |access-date=5 December 2021 |work=JudoInside.com}}

| worlds_rank = 1

| worlds_year = 2018

| worlds_weight = Men's 73 kg

| regionals_type = AS

| regionals_rank = 1

| regionals_year = 2015

| regionals_weight =

| regionals_year2 = 2017

| regionals_weight2 =

| regionals_year3 = 2021

| regionals_weight3 =

| nationals =

| olympics_rank = 3

| olympics_year = 2020

| olympics_weight = Men's 73 kg

| show-medals = yes

|medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Country| {{KOR}} }}

{{Medal|B| 2020 Tokyo | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2018 Baku | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2015 Astana | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2017 Budapest | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2018 Jakarta | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2015 Kuwait City | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2017 Hong Kong | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2021 Bishkek | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2019 Fujairah | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2021 Doha | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2018 Guangzhou | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2015 Abu Dhabi | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2016 Paris | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2015 Tokyo | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2017 Paris | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2020 Düsseldorf | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2014 Tokyo | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2018 Paris | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2014 Jeju | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2015 Jeju | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2018 Hohhot | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2019 Antalya | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|S| 2018 Antalya | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2015 Düsseldorf | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|B| 2016 Düsseldorf | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2014 Fort Lauderdale | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

{{Medal|G| 2015 Gwangju | {{nbnd}}73 kg }}

| updated = 23 May 2023

}}

An Chang-rim ({{korean|hangul=안창림|hanja=安昌林}}; born 2 March 1994) is a South Korean retired judoka.

An was the world champion in the lightweight division in 2018, He began his rise as one of judo's top lightweights by becoming junior World Champion. It was followed by a two-year podium streak, including wins at the prestigious Grand Slam Abu Dhabi and Tokyo. He is known for his physical, aggressive style of fighting, and is a versatile stylist of seoi nage.

An won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships. South Korea's premier lightweight, he represented Korea at the 2016 Olympics.{{cite Sports-Reference}} He was also seeded first at the Olympics.{{Cite web|url =http://www.intjudo.eu/upload/2016_02/08/145492815470128227/ijf_sen_wrl_2016_02_08.pdf|title =IJF World Rankings 8 Feb 2016|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160216074240/http://www.intjudo.eu/upload/2016_02/08/145492815470128227/ijf_sen_wrl_2016_02_08.pdf|archive-date =16 February 2016|url-status =dead|df =dmy-all}} He is currently ranked fourth in the world. In December 2021 he officially announced retirement.

Early life

An was born to third generation Zainichi Korean parents. He wanted to compete for South Korea from a young age, saying "I was never discriminated against here [in South Korea]."{{Cite web|url = http://www.100judo.com/post/chang-rim-an-the-judoka-with-japanese-roots-fighitng-for-korea|title = An Changrim: Judoka with Japanese roots fighting for Korea|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

An began judo in first grade.{{Cite web|url=http://japanese.joins.com/article/786/202786.html|title=＜光州ユニバ＞日本帰化を断った柔道の安昌林、オール一本勝ちで金メダル {{!}} Joongang Ilbo {{!}} 中央日報|website=japanese.joins.com|access-date=3 April 2016}} He attended Kyoto City Hachijo Junior High School, where he began to compete. He was unable to compete internationally for Japan because he refused naturalization.

Before moving to Korea, An was a student at the University of Tsukuba, where he trained and was teammates with 2015 World Champion Takanori Nagase.{{Cite web|url = http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002670236|title = Japan born An aims to lift Korea at the Olympic Games|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}{{Cite web|url=http://club.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp/judo/archives/2013/09/post-69.html|title=筑波大学柔道部|website=club.taiiku.tsukuba.ac.jp|access-date=3 April 2016}} He was the 2013 All Japan University lightweight champion.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gakujuren.or.jp/results_2013.html|title=一般社団法人全日本学生柔道連盟|website=www.gakujuren.or.jp|access-date=3 April 2016}} He currently attends and trains at Yong In University.{{Cite web|url = http://mengnews.joins.com/view.aspx?gCat=070&aId=3013892|title = Judokas set their sights on Olympic gold|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

Career

=2014 World Judo Championships=

{{Quote box

| quote = "There was no pressure for me. I didn't expect anything at all. I tried the best I could but juniors level is different. I have experience there. Senior fighters have more experience and strength." An on losing in his second fight in his first World Championships

}}

{{Citation|last=더쿠|title=안창림 유도 인터뷰|date=9 August 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHrufCymdvY|accessdate=28 August 2016}}

An began his competitive senior career in 2014, representing Korea at the 2014 World Judo Championships. He competed in the −73 kg category, after local lightweight number one Wang Ki-chun missed the tournament.{{Cite web|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUtIWAVPLwI|title = Cool Kiz on The Block: Selection of the National Team|date = 15 December 2015|access-date = |website = YouTube|publisher = |last = |first = }} He lost in the second round to Israeli champion Sagi Muki.

File:2013 alljapan student.jpg (left). ]]

=2014 World Junior Judo Championships=

{{Blockquote|text=I like to be challenged. The seeding doesn't matter to me.|sign=|source=An on winning the World Junior Championships unranked}}

An had a breakthrough in his junior career, winning the 2014 World Junior Championships in Fort Lauderdale. He won against Japan's Yuji Yamamoto in the final, scoring two waza-aris for ippon.{{Cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mv-T1wSU32o| title = World Judo Junior Championships Final 2014| website = YouTube| date = 25 October 2014}}

=2014 Grand Prix Jeju=

An won his first IJF circuit title at the 2014 Grand Prix in Jeju, beating established opponents such as 2008 European Champion Dirk Van Tichelt in the semi-finals, and future European Champion Sagi Muki in the finals, both by ippon.

=2014 Grand Slam Tokyo=

An competed in his first Grand Slam in 2014, at the heart of judo in Tokyo. He lost to double world champion Shohei Ono in the quarter-finals, and Ono would prove to be a stumbling block later on in his career. He won his first Grand Slam medal against Rustam Orujov in the bronze medal contest, winning narrowly by yuko.

=2015 Grand Prix Dusseldorf=

An again had a fairly successful outing at the Grand Prix in Düsseldorf, where he was guaranteed a medal by beating Muki by ippon in the quarter-finals. However, he was again faced against his budding rival Ono, and lost in the semi-finals. He won a bronze medal by defeating Victor Scvortov.

=2015 European Open Warsaw=

An continued his medal-winning streak at the European Open in Warsaw, reaching the final after winning all his fights en-route by ippon. He faced his first opponent from Asia in the tournament with Mongolia's Odbayar Ganbataar, where Ganbataar threw him for ippon, therefore beating An to settle for silver.

=2015 Asian Judo Championships=

An won his first continental title at the Asian Judo Championships in Kuwait City. He defeated Sharofiddin Boltaboev in just 49 seconds by ippon.

=2015 Universiade=

An defeated all his opponents by ippon at home ground in Gwangju. He defeated Yamamoto again in the semi-final, and took gold against Ukraine's Dmytro Kanivets.

=2015 World Judo Championships=

{{Quote box

| quote = "They are both very strong and experienced fighters. I can't expect to beat them now. My focus is on the worlds and Olympics." – An in 2014 on succeeding Wang as Korea's top lightweight as the latter ascended to half-lightweight

}}

An competed in his second world championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, and reached the semi-final. He was once again pitted against the eventual tournament winner Ono, and lost for the third time.{{Cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD5ao6zJ6Bo| title = WC Astana 2015 -73 semi-final: Ono vs An| website = YouTube}} Ono scored first with an uchi mata counter for waza-ari, and An leveled the scores by scoring waza-ari with a minute and a half to go. Ono sealed his win with an ushiro goshi, ending An's hopes of becoming Korea's third lightweight world champion, after Lee Won-hee and Wang.

He then went on to win by shido against Ganbataar in the bronze-medal contest, becoming one of South Korea's five individual medalists at the championships.

In the team competition, Korea faced Mongolia in the semi-finals. An faced Ganbataar and beat him for a second time in Astana with a seoi nage to win by ippon in just ten seconds.{{Cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRrKAH1HSVI| title = Astana 2015 Team Judo World Championships Men Semi-final: Korea vs Mongolia| website = YouTube}} Korea won 4–1, and was set against Japan in the finals.

An's opponent in the team final was double world champion and the 2015 silver medalist Riki Nakaya. Japan was one up after former world champion Masashi Ebinuma beat current world champion An Baul, putting pressure on An. An beat Nakaya by ippon with his signature skill seoi nage.{{Cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kuHKCDtY9g| title = Japan vs South Korea World Judo Team Championships 2015 – Astana – Final| website = YouTube| date = 31 August 2015}} Korea eventually lost to Japan 3–2, and had to settle for silver.

=2015 Grand Slam Abu Dhabi=

An won his first Grand Slam at Abu Dhabi, winning all his fights by ippon with the exception of the quarter-final against half-lightweight Olympic champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili. He beat Germany's Igor Wandtke for the gold medal.

=2015 Grand Prix Jeju=

An had a re-match with van Tichelt again in the final for the second year running at the Grand Slam in Jeju. He defeated the Belgian once again by ippon.

=2015 Grand Slam Tokyo=

{{Blockquote|text="Two years ago... I was Hiroyuki-san's attendant. I intended to send him into retirement."|sign=|source=An on facing former World Champion Akimoto in the final of the Grand Slam Tokyo}}

An faced his senior from the University of Tsukuba, world champion Hiroyuki Akimoto, in the final. After the match he said to The Japan News, "Two years ago at this event I was Hiroyuki-san's attendant. I intended to send him into retirement." He lost to Akimoto by waza-ari, settling for silver.

=2016 Grand Slam Paris=

{{Quote box

| quote = "I will win the Olympic final against Ono." – An on his ambitions at the 2016 Olympics

}}

At his first outing to one of the IJF circuit's most prestigious events, An managed to win his second Grand Slam title. He had a re-match with Akimoto in the semi-final, and this time emerged victorious, winning by ippon and waza-ari. He defeated Russia's Denis Iartcev in the final. After winning the gold medal, An spoke to L'esprit du Judo, a French judo magazine. He answered their questions in Japanese, and was quoted saying, "I will win the Olympic final against Ono."{{Cite web| url = http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3qv0a9_an-changrim-gagner-la-finale-olympique-contre-ono_sport| title = An Changrim "Gagner la finale olympique contre Ono"}}

=2016 Grand Prix Dusseldorf=

An again faced his rival Ono in the semi-final at the Grand Prix in Düsseldorf, and lost for the fourth time. He ended up winning bronze against Mongolia's Khadbataar Narankhuu.

=2018 Baku World Championship=

An, for the first time, won the World Championship title. In the final he ended up going against his rival, Soichi Hashimoto from Japan. An beat Hashimoto with a Kosoto-gake which lead him to his first World Championship title.

=2021=

In 2021, he won the gold medal in his event at the 2021 Judo World Masters held in Doha, Qatar.{{Cite web|title=2021 Judo World Masters|url=https://www.ijf.org/competition/2180/results|url-status=live|access-date=11 January 2021|website=International Judo Federation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112233234/https://www.ijf.org/competition/2180/results |archive-date=2021-01-12 }}{{Cite news|last=Gillen|first=Nancy|date=12 January 2021|title=Four-time world champion Agbegnenou earns gold at IJF World Judo Masters|work=InsideTheGames.biz|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1102942/agbegnenou-wins-at-world-judo-masters|url-status=live|access-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112191412/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1102942/agbegnenou-wins-at-world-judo-masters|archive-date=12 January 2021}}

Competitive record

class="wikitable"

! colspan="2" |Judo Record{{Cite web|url = https://www.judobase.org/#/competitor/profile/16921/statistics|title = An Changrim: Statistics|date = |access-date = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}

Total

|138

Wins

|120 (87%)

Losses

|18 (13%)

(as of 30 November 2019)