John Jayne ( ; born 4 March 1997) is a judoka. A triple national born and raised in England, he has represented both Great Britain and the United States. Most recently, he competed for the latter at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Early life and education Jayne was born and raised in London to an American father and a Bulgarian mother. He took his first judo class at the Budokwai in Chelsea at age 3 and went on to train at Moberly Stars Judo in Queen's Park. Growing up in London representing the Moberly Stars Judo Club he set an all time British record by winning the British Judo Association National Age Banded Championships ten times. Year Event Weight Result Location Source 2007 BJA National Age-Banded Championships — A Band −34 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • Tonbridge JC note (Sheffield 2007) 2008 BJA National Age-Banded Championships — A Band −38 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • Battlehill JC note (Sheffield 2008) 2009 British Championships — Pre-Cadet (Age-Band B) −46 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • British Championships 2009 results 2010 British Championships — Pre-Cadet (Age-Band B) −55 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • British Championships 2010 results 2011 British Championships — Cadet (Age-Band C) −73 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • British Championships 2011 results 2012 British Championships — Cadet (Age-Band C) −90 kg Gold Sheffield, England (iceSheffield) Moberly JC – Jayne titles list • Event information (2012) 2013 (Jan) British Championships — Cadet (Age-Band C) −90 kg Gold Sheffield, England (EIS Sheffield) Moberly JC news (Jan 2013) • Event hub (EIS Sheffield) 2013 (Dec) British Championships — Cadet (Age-Band C) +90 kg Gold Sheffield, England (EIS Sheffield) BJA report – cadets • Event weekend in Sheffield 2013 (Dec) British Championships — Junior (Age-Band D) −100 kg Gold Sheffield, England (EIS Sheffield) BJA report – juniors • BJA news follow-up 2014 (Dec) British Championships — Junior (Age-Band D) −100 kg Gold Sheffield, England (EIS Sheffield) BJA results post • Event information (2014)

He represented Great Britain until 2013. In 2013 he was Cadet National Champion in three countries – USA, Great Britain and Bulgaria; and, representing the United States, was 2013 World/Open European Sambo Champion – Cadets at +84 kg in Riga, Latvia. Also in 2013 he was a Bronze Medalist at the EYOF (European Youth Olympics Festival) at -90 kg in Utrecht, Netherlands. In addition, in 2014, Jayne placed 7th at USAW Junior Greco Nationals. In 2017 he was U21 Pan American Champion in Cancun and Senior US National Champion in Salt Lake City, both at -100 kg. He received the USJA 2017 Male Athlete of the Year Award.

Jayne competed in Sambo events, representing the United States, between 2013 and 2016. In 2013 he won the World/Open European Cadet Sambo Championship. In 2016 he won the senior USA Sambo National Championship in Joliet, Illinois, and he won Bronze at the Senior 2016 Sambo World Cup “Kharlampiev Memorial” in Moscow, Russia, both at -90 kg. Year Event Weight Result Location Source 2013 (Sep 13–16) World/Open European SAMBO Championship — Cadets +84 kg Gold Riga, Latvia 2016 (Mar 26) World SAMBO Cup “Kharlampiev Memorial” −90 kg Bronze Moscow, Russia 2016 (May 28) USA SAMBO Championship (US Open) — Joliet −90 kg Gold Joliet, Illinois, USA

Jayne competed in judo events in the United States between 2007 and 2017. At the 45th USJF Junior National Judo Championships in Chicago, Illinois, in July 2008, he was awarded the “Outstanding Male Competitor Prize”. At the 2017 USA Junior Olympic National and International Championships on 16–18 June 2017, in Spokane, Washington, Jayne won all matches by ippon in under a minute and was awarded the “Male Best Technique Award” over the two days.

Year Event Division / Weight Result City & State 2007 (Jul 14–15) 44th USJF Junior National Judo Championships Boys Intermediate 1 −34 kg Gold Ypsilanti, Michigan (EMU Convocation Center)USJF event information; secondary coverage of 44th Junior Nationals. 2008 (Jul 5–6) 45th USJF Junior National Judo Championships Boys Intermediate 2 −38 kg Gold Chicago, IllinoisMoberly Judo – Report of John Jayne winning gold at the 45th USJF Junior Nationals, Chicago, 2008. 2013 (Mar 23–24) USA Judo National Youth & Scholastic Championships Cadet +90 kg Gold Doral, FloridaUSA Judo official results; confirmation by event host in Doral, FL. 2013 (Nov 24) USA Judo President’s Cup −100 kg Gold Dallas, TexasJudoInside event results for 2013 President’s Cup (Dallas). 2017 (Apr 29) USA Judo Senior National Championships −100 kg Gold Salt Lake City, UtahUSA Judo brackets (PDF); USA Judo athlete profile confirming 2017 Senior National Champion. 2017 (Jun 16–18) USA Judo Junior Olympic National and International Championships −100 kg Gold Spokane, WashingtonUSA Judo competition records; event details confirming Jayne’s gold at the 2017 Junior Olympic National & International Championships, Spokane.

Jayne was also active in the British Wrestling Association from 2009 to 2014. Year Event Weight Result Location Source 2009 Christolutte International (US Créteil) — Gold Créteil, France Tournament info • Club record 2010 English Junior Championships 50 kg Gold Stockton-on-Tees, England (Thornaby Pavilion) Results 2010 British Junior Championships 56 kg Gold Bolton, England (Bolton Arena) Results 2011 British Junior Championships 73 kg Gold Croydon, England (Whitgift School) Results 2012 22nd Nègrepelisse International Tournament — Gold Nègrepelisse, France BWA report 2014 English Junior Championships 96 kg Gold Twickenham, England (St Mary's University) Results Jayne completed his GCSE and A Levels at the Mander Portman Woodward school in London. He went on to graduate from the University of Chicago with a BA in Mathematics in 2019 and from King's College London with an MSc in Mathematics in 2022. While at the University of Chicago, Jayne did collegiate wrestling, before switching his focus back to judo upon graduation.

Career He was a bronze medallist in the 90 kg category at the 2022 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Lima, Peru.

He was a bronze medalist in the 90 kg category at the 2023 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Calgary, Canada.

He was a silver medalist in the 90 kg category at the 2024 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was subsequently selected for the 2024 Paris Olympics to compete in the men's 90 kg.

In the Paris Olympics, he defeated former vice world champion Christian Parlati in the preliminary round before being knocked out by Han Ju-yeop in the Round of 16.

He was a bronze medalist in the 90 kg category at the 2025 Pan American-Oceania Judo Championships in Santiago, Chile.

He was a silver medalist in the 90 kg category at the 2026 Pan American Judo Championships in Panama City, Panama.

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