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July 20, 2008

Taraje Williams-Murray

Posted: 02:52 PM ET
Taraje Williams-Murray, 23, is a four-time national judo champion.
Taraje Williams-Murray, 23, is a four-time national judo champion.

Taraje Williams-Murray knows exactly where he’s going to eat when the Olympics are over. He knows the cooking he’s going to do to gain back 25 pounds. He knows all about the lazy Sundays he will have with his girlfriend and family just vegging out.

But he's putting that all aside for now in the name of sacrifice, which is basically the first word out of 23-year-old Taraje’s mouth these days as he prepares for the Beijing Olympics. He’s a four-time national judo champion and was on the U.S. judo team in Athens four years ago. He knows exactly what kind of sacrifices he's making with 16-hour training days with strict workouts and a strict diet. It was all the subject of his documentary, "Beyond the Rings".

Taraje has been competing in judo since he was eight years old. "The pinnacle of any judoka is the Olympics," he says. He knows all the fun he could be having if he wasn't training, he can wait for that but he can't wait to compete.

Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview

Filed under: Amazing talents • Athletes • Olympics


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Drew Green   July 22nd, 2008 11:24 pm ET

Are there any days during the Olympics that you can watch other events and not worry about getting ready for your own matches? If so what are you looking forward to seeing the most? besides of course Judo.
ST   July 23rd, 2008 1:01 am ET

What is your favorite and least favorite part of your training? Why?
Dr. Irakus   July 23rd, 2008 1:05 am ET

A 16 hr training day sounds pretty daunting..most people don't work that much in a day...wow
Could Taraje give us a walk through of a typical training day?
love   July 23rd, 2008 9:50 am ET

What other than Judo would you like to do regarding a career or would you consider this your career going forward?
Rufus and Stephanie Ferguson   July 23rd, 2008 2:12 pm ET

Congratulations Taraje!!

We (and the Judo Crusader) are looking for GOLD!!!

Thanks for representing us on TEAM USA!

USA!

USA!
YS   July 23rd, 2008 3:24 pm ET

He is soooo cuuuuute!!!!! Hope he was my "sensei". :P

christina   July 25th, 2008 1:23 pm ET

Taraje..

You're Amazing!

My family wishes you continued success, we are VERY PROUD of you and all that you have accomplished thus far.

THE VICTORY IS YOURS 8-9-08 ******GOLD********
DethStryque   July 27th, 2008 9:09 pm ET

You are a true inspiration,and I have nothing but the highest regard for your incredible sacrifices,willpower,devotion,skill level and achievement.What makes your outstanding achievements in Judo even more astonishing is how you have paced these amazing athletic achievements with equally sterling academic accolades.Props and the fist pound to ya,brah.
Archi   August 24th, 2008 8:25 pm ET

Good post. Your posts are really interesting. To have a good resource you should not only to post something, but do it interesting. You do your best.
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Nicole LapinYoung People Who Rock is a weekly interview series focused on people under 30 - from CEOs to entertainers to athletes to community and political leaders - who are doing remarkable things. Nicole Lapin finds them and introduces them here by writing a weekly column that goes out in time for you to chime in before she interviews them Fridays on CNN.com Live.

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