Troy Judo Club
Began formal judo training in Troy, New York, under Sensei Robert Fountain and Sensei Kudo, using judo to strengthen an already competitive wrestling base.
USA Judo · Veterans competition · Coaching
Four decades after the first medal, the work continues.
Billy Gavigan is a USA Judo national champion, two-year No. 1 divisional athlete, international medalist, coach and advocate for lifelong participation in judo.
2024–2025
Back-to-back No. 1 seasons.
In 2024 Billy finished No. 1 on USA Judo's veterans year-end roster at M4 / 81 kg, won U.S. Open and President's Cup gold, earned European Cup bronze, and finished ninth at the World Championships Veterans in Las Vegas.
In 2025 he moved to the top of the M4 / 90 kg year-end roster and won the USA Judo national championship. The same official roster placed him No. 3 at M4 / 81 kg.
2024 rankingNo. 1 · M4 / 81
2024 Worlds9th · Las Vegas
2025 resultNational Champion
2025 rankingNo. 1 · M4 / 90
Tournament record.
Results are drawn from official USA Judo and International Judo Federation records where available, supplemented by the athlete's competition and podium archive.
| Year | Event | Result | Division / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | USA Judo Senior National Championships | Veterans bronze | Competition record |
| 2025 | USA Judo National Championships | Gold · M4 / 90 kg | National champion |
| 2025 | USA Judo year-end roster | No. 1 · M4 / 90 kg | No. 3 · M4 / 81 kg |
| 2025 | U.S. Open Judo Championships | Bronze · M4 / 90 kg | Bronze · M4 / 81 kg |
| 2025 | European Veterans / Veterans Open | Bronze / Gold | Competition archive |
| 2024 | World Championships Veterans · Las Vegas | Ninth · M4 / 81 kg | Represented the United States |
| 2024 | USA Judo year-end roster | No. 1 · M4 / 81 kg | Official published roster |
| 2024 | U.S. Open / President's Cup | Gold / Gold | M4 / 81 kg |
| 2024 | Hamburg Veteran European Cup | Bronze · -81 kg | Official IJF result |
| 2023 | World Championships Veterans · Abu Dhabi | Top 16 · -81 kg | International return |
Division notation follows the published event or roster. The 2024 Worlds ninth-place result reflects Billy's official competition record and athlete record; the linked IJF event is provided for championship context.
From Troy to Japan—and back.
The recent medals are one chapter in a training history that began in New York, continued during Marine service in Japan and returned to international competition decades later.
Camp Fuji and Shodan
While serving as a Marine in Japan, trained and competed with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force judo team at Takigahara Garrison and was awarded Shodan in 1998.
Nidan to Sandan
Advanced to Nidan in 2001 and was promoted to Sandan on May 4, 2024, according to the submitted judo biography and promotion record.
International return
Returned to the Veterans World Championships in Abu Dhabi, then built a multi-season run across USA Judo nationals, U.S. Opens, European events and the Las Vegas World Championships.
Coaching and community
The medal is personal. The mission is larger.
Billy's current judo work includes coaching and club development through JMJC Judo Beaufort / Fusion Grappling Club and advocacy for adult athletes through Veterans Judo USA.
The goal is practical: create safe entry points for newer athletes, sustain training and competition for experienced judoka, and build the camps, tournaments, coaching and relationships that keep people on the mat for life.
