Olympic Judoka Marti Malloy Helps Plan LA28 Games

The athlete who won bronze for Team USA in judo at London 2012 never imagined how much work happens behind the scenes at an Olympic Games. Now Marti Malloy is finding out firsthand as Senior Marketing Manager for LA28's Organising Committee.

Malloy retired from competition in 2017 after a stellar career that included a world championships silver medal in 2013. Like many athletes, she faced an uncertain transition period, wondering where she belonged without the structure of training and competition.

She took her business degree from San Jose State University, where she studied between training sessions and even during weight cuts, into the corporate world. After working at a San Francisco health tech startup, she joined LA28 through their Athlete Fellowship Program, eventually landing a permanent role on the digital engagement and marketing team.

The parallels between organizing an Olympics and competing in one surprise her. "You're hitting different milestones along the way as you build toward the big moment," Malloy explained on JudoTV's JudoPod. She even uses the same visualization techniques she practiced on the mat, now preparing for presentations instead of opponents.

Her London 2012 team marked a golden era for American judo. Malloy's bronze came just days before teammate Kayla Harrison won the nation's first Olympic judo gold, while Travis Stevens reached the bronze medal match. The five-person squad punched well above its weight.

The Ripple Effect

That success planted seeds Malloy hopes will bloom at LA28. She saw her medal as a checkbox for women in American judo, proof of what's possible. Now she works to grow that legacy beyond the Organising Committee.

As CEO and president of the Yoshihiro Uchida Legacy Foundation, Malloy provides scholarships and grants to student athletes. The foundation's Global Judo Project expands access in underserved regions, while the Youth Judo Project supports young athletes facing financial barriers. A new Women's Judo Initiative aims to increase participation and remove obstacles for girls entering the sport.

Malloy describes judo as "the hardest sport on the planet" and credits it with shaping how she approaches everything. The mental toughness, the discipline, the ability to visualize success transfers directly to her work organizing an Olympics.

She's preparing for her third Olympic Games now, but this time from the other side of the mat. The blinders are off, and she sees the massive project clearly: thousands of details building toward one unforgettable moment when the world gathers in Los Angeles.