Ruben Houkes

Ruben Houkes ( born June 8, 1979 in Schagen ) is a Dutch judoka. It occurs in the super light weight of ( class up to 60 kg).

Career

Houkes was great at Haarlem Martial Arts club Kenamju. In 1995 he was in his home country for the first time youth champion, followed in 2001, the first championship in the seniors. A first international Attention success he achieved in 2003 with a seventh- place finish at the Judo European Championships. After two bronze medals at the Judo European Championships in 2005 and 2006, he celebrated with the title at the 2007 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest success of his career.

With this success, he qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. There he won the bronze medal after a victory against the Israeli Gal Yekutiel by Ippon. Previously, he was in the semifinals of the later Olympic champion Choi Min-ho inferior.

Since 1998 Houkes struggling in the German Bundesliga for the JC 66 Bottrop. With the increasing international successes increased the interest in Houkes other Bundesliga. Despite lucrative offers from different clubs, Houkes remained after the 2005 relegation to the 2nd Bundesliga club the faithful.

Outside of sport Houkes manager for a sports marketing agencies, inter alia, the two brothers Guillaume and Dex Elmont, and Dennis van der Geest also judoka - cared. He is romantically involved with his teammate Dani libosan.

Achievements

• European Championships 2003 in Dusseldorf: 7 ( Super light weight - 60 kg ) 2004 in Bucharest: 5 ( Super light weight - 60 kg ) 2005 Rotterdam: 3 (Super Light Weight - 60 kg) 2006 in Tampere: 3 (Super Light Weight - 60 kg) 2008 in Lisbon: 2 (Super Light Weight - 60 kg) 2009 Tifilis: 5 ( Super Lightweight -60 kg )

• World Championships 2007 in Rio de Janeiro: 1 (Super Light Weight - 60 kg)

• Olympic games Beijing 2008: 3rd ( Super light weight - 60 kg )