- Adler Volmar
Adler Volmar (born
March 5 1977 ) is aHaiti an-American fourth-degree black beltjudoka . A dual citizen, he competed for Haiti at the1996 Summer Olympics and has qualified to compete for the United States at the2008 Summer Olympics in the 100 kg (220 pound) weight class.cite web |last=Weiner |first=Jay |title=The journey was long, but Volmar finally gets Olympic chance |publisher=ESPN.com |date=2008-06-22 |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/columns/story?id=3452860 |accessdate=2008-06-23 ]Volmar was born in
Miami, Florida onMarch 5 1977 .cite web |title=Adler Volmar |publisher=USA Judo |url=http://www.usjudo.org/AdlerVolmar.asp |accessdate=2008-06-23 ] His mother Yolette had been visiting that city from her home inCap-Haïtien , Haiti. Shortly after his birth, he and his mother returned to Haiti where they lived a prosperous life. Volmar's father was a land owner and small businessman; the family ran ahome improvement store. His father was also a veteran of the Haitian military and had once been a driver for dictatorFrançois Duvalier . Volmar's parents divorced by the time he was thirteen.In 1990, after losing a fight at school, Volmar began taking self-defense lessons at the Union Judo Club in Cap-Haïtien under the tutelage of Leandre Innocent. He was an apt student and earned a black belt after only two years. At age seventeen, his mother sent him to live with his aunts in the United States because of political turmoil in Haiti. Because he was born in the United States, he held
U.S. citizenship and was able to travel there at a time when other Haitians were being denied visas. He began competing in the U.S. and internationally.Volmar competed for his home country, Haiti, at the
1996 Summer Olympics inAtlanta, Georgia . He was Haiti's flag bearer at the opening ceremony. Competing in the half-middleweight class (78 kg), he was given a bye in the first round and lost in the second round toFlávio Canto ofBrazil . [cite book |title=The Official Report of the Centennial Olympic Games |publisher=Peachtree Publishers |date=1997 |location=Atlanta, Georgia |volume=3 |page=303 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1996/1996v3.pdf |accessdate=2008-06-23 |isbn=156145169X ]While living with an aunt in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida , in 1998, Volmar received a letter from theSelective Service System notifying him that he must register with the system. Not yet fluent in English, he misunderstood and thought that he was obligated to serve in the military. After speaking with a recruiter who told him of the military's sports programs, Volmar enlisted in theUnited States Navy . His military service offered an excuse to ask the Haitian sport authorities for release, freeing him to compete for the United States. Volmar was trained as acombat medic and taught classes in self-defense atNaval Station Newport inRhode Island . After work, he would drive ninety-eight miles to train at a judo club run byJimmy Pedro inLawrence, Massachusetts .Eventually, Volmar was admitted to the Navy's sports program and began competing again. He finished seventh at the January 2003
Kano Cup inJapan and was hoping to qualify for the2004 Summer Olympics , until tearing twoligament s in his right knee at a training camp inPoland . He healed enough to compete at the Olympic trials, but failed to qualify for the summer games. He left the Navy as apetty officer at the end of his term of service in 2006.Volmar continued to train and participate in U.S. and international competitions. By January 2008, he was a member of the U.S. national judo team and was preparing for the
2008 Summer Olympic trials under coach German Velazco. Working out with teammateAnthony Turner that month, Volmar executed a throw which caused Turner to land on Volmar's left knee. With torncartilage and two torn ligaments in his left knee, Volmar's chances to qualify for the Olympics were again in doubt. After surgery to repair the knee onFebruary 5 , he began vigorous rehabilitation to regain his strength. He started full training workouts two weeks before theJune 13 trials and competed inEl Salvador one week before the trials. Despite his injury, he was still expected to win the 100 kg (220 pound) weight class based on his performance throughout the previous year.At the Olympic trials in
Las Vegas, Nevada , Volmar lost his first fight toBrian Picklo . Because of Volmar's long-standing number one ranking, a rematch was granted. The two would compete in a best-of-three series, with the winner earning a spot on the Olympic team. Volmar won the first match and Picklo won the second in overtime. The third fight also went to overtime and ended with a throw by Picklo which Volmar countered. Both opponents thought they had won the final point. After reviewing video of the move, officials decided that the winning point should go to Volmar. As winner of the best-of-three series, he qualified for the U.S. Olympic team and is expected to compete in the games inBeijing .Volmar lives in
Coral Springs, Florida , with his wife Crystal and their three children.Notes
External links
* [http://www.belpoz.com/picture-4694 Adler Volmar's Photo]
* [http://adlervolmar.com/ Volmar's official website]
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