The Tokyo Games are right around the corner, and karate athletes are preparing to represent the United States in Japan. Much can change between now and the start of the Olympics, but below is a rough lineup of the athletes in position to head to Tokyo.
Note that countries qualify quota spots (not individual athletes) to the Olympics. Once a country has earned a quota spot in a certain weight class, it may use its own process to decide which athlete will fill that spot at the Games. Countries are limited to a maximum of one quota place per weight class, but there is no limit on the number of weight classes that a country may qualify a spot in.
Three American karatekas have punched their ticket to Tokyo. Those athletes are as follows:
Ariel Torres, men's kata
Brian Irr, men's kumite (+75kg)
Sakura Kokumai, women's kata