In a career that began in 1967, Lynn Roethke reigns as one of the most accomplished American women judo athletes in the history of the sport. Lynn holds the rank of eighth degree black belt. This promotion made her the youngest female eighth degree black belt and one of only three of the highest ranked woman in the United States.

Lynn was the first American woman to medal in judo at the Olympic Games, winning a silver medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea. She was also an Olympic team member in Barcelona in 1992. In 1987 Lynn was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame, making her the first woman in the world to earn that honor. In 2008, she was inducted in the inaugural class of the USA Judo Hall of Fame.

She was selected by the U.S. Olympic committee as “female athlete of the year” in the sport of judo in 1985 and 1987. Winner of a silver medal in the 1987 World Championships, Lynn is also a two- time gold medalist in the Pan American Games. Her honors also include some 450 judo awards in competitions throughout the world, winning international medals in the United States, Canada, Russia, England, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Venezuela, Yugoslavia, Austria, China, Cuba, Holland and Poland. She is the only US woman to be a three time medalist in the prestigious Japan’s Fukuoka Women’s International tournament. Lynn is a nine time U.S. Senior National Champion.

Lynn is an honors graduate from Marian University holding a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration and Sport and Recreation Management. She resides in Fond du Lac, and is owner/operator of Club Olympia, an adult co-ed fitness center, which recently celebrated its twenty fifth year anniversary. She is a certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor. Lynn teaches and coaches a judo program at her fitness club which has produced State, National and International Champions. She also conducts motivational seminars and clinics throughout the United States.

Lynn is currently employed by Advocate Aurora as a Corporate Certified
Personal Trainer developing and implementing both individual and group exercise plans for the Johnsonville Sausage Company. She is currently a member of USA Judo’s National Promotion board. Lynn is also an international coach for Team USA, recently coaching in Belgium, Dominican Republic, Argentina and at the Jr. World Championships in Croatia.