Kayla Harrison joins small group of local multiple local gold medalists

Credit: Julian Finney

Credit: Julian Finney

Middletown's Kayla Harrison made history Thursday, winning her second gold medal in Olympic women's judo and becoming the most decorated American judokan in the sports history.

She became the first American gold medalist in 2012 in London. Her win Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, which she said beforehand would be her last match, cemented her legacy as one of the greats in the sport. She also joined a select group of locals who have won multiple gold medals. Harrison is the fourth to do so and the first in over 30 years.

Winners of multiple Olympic gold medals from the Miami Valley: 
  • Charles Daniels of Dayton won five golds in swimming from 1904-1908.
  • Edwin C. Moses won two golds in 400-meter hurdles (1976 and '84) as well as a silver in 1988.
  • Darrell Pace won golds in archery in 1976 and '84 as well as a silver in '88.
  • Kayla Harrison won gold in judo in 2012 and '16.

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