Maria Escano will compete at 57 kilograms for Guam in the Summer Olympic Games later this month in Paris. (Courtesy of Guam judo)
Maria Escano personifies the term international athlete.
The 2019 Seoul American graduate has competed in judo in 15 countries on four continents. She’s a college student on scholarship at Sendai University in Japan. She speaks four languages. Her father is Filipino and her mother Russian.
The next step in her 22-year life’s journey is in Paris, where Escano will represent Guam in the 57-kilogram weight class.
“Amazing is one way to put it, but when I got the confirmation that I was going, the feeling was indescribable,” Escano said. “I cried at first because it has been a really, really long road. I still don’t think it’s hit me, but I’m really looking forward to the Games.”
Escano, 22, has lived in Korea most of her life; it was where she was introduced to judo in Uijeongbu, about 13 miles north of Seoul, when she was just 7 years old.
Her father, Jim, worked as a contractor for U.S. Forces Korea at Camp Red Cloud starting in 1999, then moved to Yongsan Garrison when the former shut down as part of the relocation of U.S. forces south of Seoul. He and his job have since moved to Camp Humphreys.
Escano attended Casey Elementary starting in 1999, then Seoul American until her graduation.
She began her martial arts training at the Uijeongbu Judo Center, under the coach she refers to as her “judo dad,” Lee Jong-myong.
Maria Escano, a 2019 graduate of Seoul American High School, has competed in judo for Guam in 15 countries, including France, where she'll compete in the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. (Courtesy of Guam judo)
She couldn’t compete for Korea because it would involve a citizenship change. And could not compete for the States because she wasn’t registered with a U.S. club.
Seizing on her family ties to Guam - her grandmother lives there - Escano traveled to Guam in 2017, sought out the island’s judo federation and became acquainted with Ricardo Blas, who competed for Guam in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
“They took a chance on me and I took a chance on them,” Escano recalled. “He (Blas) was the one who convinced the federation that they should take me in, so I have him to thank for opening the door.”
Escano began competing for Guam in 2018, graduated a year early from Seoul American High School and earned a scholarship to attend Sendai University in Japan, about halfway between Misawa Air Base and Tokyo.
She credits Sendai husband-and-wife coaches Mitsutoshi and Kazue Nanjo for pushing her in her judo career, and coach Lee for getting her started lo’ those many years ago.
“But I would say that my parents are the ones I’m forever grateful for,” Escano said. “I couldn’t have done it without them. They do so much for me and my journey.”
In addition to South Korea and Japan, Escano has competed in Hong Kong, Italy, Hungary, Tahiti, Australia, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey, Croatia, France, Austria and the old Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia.
“It was definitely an experience, to say the least,” Escano said. “I wouldn’t be half the person I am without it.”
In short, it’s been a whirlwind journey to her first Olympics bout Monday.
“Absolutely insane,” Escano said of her roundabout road to Paris. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
