Kim Jong Hoon, ranked 111th in the world, shocked the judo world with a surprise gold medal victory at the 2025 Paris Grand Slam, which was held by the International Judo Federation (IJF).
On Monday, Kim Jong Hoon triumphed in the men’s 90kg final in Paris, defeating 2023 World Champion Luka Maisuradze of Georgia. The match went into golden score overtime, where Kim Jong Hoon capitalized on a fatigued Maisuradze, executing a brilliant ippon throw just 40 seconds in to claim the victory.
Before this tournament, Kim Jong Hoon had largely flown under the radar in international judo. The IJF noted his underdog status, noting that he entered the competition as a relatively unknown athlete, sitting at 111th in the global rankings. Despite never medaling at a Grand Slam event, Kim Jong Hoon defied expectations to claim gold in Paris, making a remarkable breakthrough.
The success continued for the South Korean team as Lee Seung Yeob from Yangpyeong County earned a silver medal in the men’s +100kg division. Lee Seung Yeob’s path to the final was highlighted by a stunning semifinal victory over 2021 World Champion Saba Inaneishvili of Georgia with a perfectly executed counter throw. However, in the final, Lee Seung Yeob was defeated by 2023 World Champion Inal Tasoev, a neutral athlete from Russia, who won with a decisive ankle throw.
On the women’s side, Lee Hyeon Ji from Namnyeong High School captured silver in the women’s over 78kg category. Lee Hyeon Ji’s impressive run to the final included a victory over Japan’s Arai Mao, the reigning Tokyo Grand Slam champion, whom she defeated with a powerful throw in the semifinals. Unfortunately, Lee Hyeon Ji’s bid for gold was halted in the final against France’s Léa Fontaine, as she was forced to withdraw due to sudden illness during the match.