Y.M.C.A.

She signed up for the 1959 New York State YMCA Judo Championship, an all-male competition hosted by an organization exclusively for men. Competition officials prohibited women from participating as they thought that the sport was too rough for women and that competing against the “stronger” men would only lead to disaster since they believed that women were too dainty to be in such sport.

A Prize Shinier than any Medal

Not only did Rena prove them wrong by going head to head against the opposite sex, she took home the gold after beating every man she came against during the event. Although Rena at first didn’t divulge that she was a woman, she told the judges the truth when they confronted her about it, forcing her to give up the medal and forfeiting her win. To her, her admission of her gender wasn’t defeat at all as she had proved to herself and everyone that women were capable of excelling in the sport of Judo, an act that had paved the way for women to be allowed to compete in the martial art.

Rena continued her dedication to the sport well into her golden years, coaching the United States Judo Team during the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She is also the first woman to ascend to the 7th black belt degree, an honor she kept until her death in 2009 at the age of 74.