Hundreds of athletes from 22 countries have flocked to Miami in the past two days in preparation for the Pan American Judo Championships, coming from as far south as Chile and as far north as the Yukon.
But one judoka will need only make a short drive down Interstate 95 to the James L. Knight Center for the competition, which kicks off Thursday.
Anthony Turner, a 28-year-old Miami native who is the favorite in the 100-kilogram-plus weight class, has the advantages of a top seed and a qualifying tournament held in his own back yard. But, he says, that doesn't mean his road will be smooth.
''At this point, no one's easy,'' Turner said
The Pan Ams serve as the final round of qualifying for the Americas teams. After this week's competition, which runs through Sunday, the slots for each country will be set.
Members of USA Judo, like Turner, then will have to compete in Las Vegas to earn their way onto the Olympic team. In order to punch his ticket to Beijing, Turner will have to perform well enough against international competition Thursday to earn the United States a 100+ slot, then take on up to seven other American opponents to occupy the spot he earned for the country.
''It's nothing really too complicated,'' Turner said. ``You just come in, and once you're here, you're here. I just have fun with it.''
''Having fun'' could best describe what Turner was doing last week when he medaled in the Jose Ramón Rodríguez tournament in Havana. Despite Cuba being considered the best national team in the Western Hemisphere, he defeated several judokas on his way to a silver medal.
Turner now will play host to a Cuban national team that is a prohibitive favorite to qualify at every weight class across the board.
`CUBA . . . WOW'
Cuba has not competed in the States since the 1996 U.S. Open in Colorado Springs, when the team collected eight of 16 gold medals and won medals in nearly every weight class. Since then, Cuba's judo program has only improved.
''We look pretty good, and Brazil is always good, too,'' said Team USA coach Jhonny Prado, who also runs the North Miami national training site. ``But Cuba . . . wow.''
The subject of defections arises whenever Cuban athletes compete in the U.S., and judo is no different. In 1993, judoka Boris Anansibea defected from Poncé, Puerto Rico. Seven years later, he was followed by Israel Hernandez, who now works as a coach for Team USA out of Harlingen, Texas.
But politics play a small role to the athletes.
''It's a privilege,'' Turner said of his visit to Havana. ``Many people can't say they went and competed in Cuba.''
A RARE FIND
Speed and agility are what make Turner a rare find in his weight class. As a senior at Northwestern High in 1998, Turner was a defensive tackle for the state powerhouse Bulls.
Since then, he has adopted an ambitious training regimen that serves as a full-time job. Three times a week, he makes the drive to Boca Raton and trains at the Institute of Human Performance to improve his speed, agility, and balance, making him ``cat-quick.''
''In the morning, I train from 8 to 10,'' Turner said. ``I come home, get a little breakfast, then from 12 to 2 is cardio, and then from 7 to 9 is more judo.''
''The main thing I can say about [Anthony] is that he's much improved in the last year,'' Team USA coach Jason Morris said. ``I think his commitment to the game has been much higher. He's overcome some injuries, but now he's at full strength.''
