Athletes of all weight classes were split into groups of 7 or 8 athletes in one of 13 teams. The tournament bracket consisted of a single-elimination contest where the team with the most wins moves to the next round culminating in a gold match. There were no repechages in this event, the two losing semi-finalists received bronze medals.
TEAM KANO - Jigorō Kanō - The founder of judo - First Asian Member of the IOC (1909-1938)
TEAM GEESINK - Anton Geesink - Olympic Gold Champion Tokyo 1964 - Two-time World Champion, IOC member
TEAM VAN DE WALLE - Robert Van de Walle - Olympic Gold Champion Moscow 1980 - Olympic Silver Medallist Seoul 1988
TEAM DOUILLET - David Douillet - Olympic Gold Champion Atlanta 1996 / Sydney 2000 - Olympic Bronze Medallist Barcelona 1992 - Four-time World Champion
TEAM BERGHMANS - Ingrid Berghmans - Olympic Gold Medallist Seoul 1988 - Six-time World Champion
TEAM NEVZOROV - Vladimir Nevzorov - RUS - Olympic Gold Medallist Montreal 1976 - One-time World Champion
TEAM TANI - Ryoko Tani - Olympic Gold Champion Sydney 2000 / Athens 2004 - Olympic Silver Medallist Barcelona 1992 / Atlanta 1996 - Olympic Bronze Medallist Beijing 2008 - Seven-times World Champion
TEAM YAMASHITA - Yasuhiro Yamashita - Olympic Gold Champion Los Angeles 1984 - Four-time World Champion
TEAM RUSKA - Willem Ruska - NED - Two-time Olympic Gold Champion Munich 1972
