Ronda Rousey, one of the greatest female mixed martial artists in history, has had a remarkable journey to the top. Despite winning an Olympic bronze medal, Rousey faced a challenging period in her life, finding herself living in her car before becoming a UFC and WWE superstar.
Rousey’s path to success began with her introduction to judo by her mother, AnnMaria De Mars, a world champion in the sport. After qualifying for the 2004 Athens Olympics at just 17 years old, Rousey continued to hone her skills, moving up to the 70kg category and becoming one of the top three women in the world.
The breakthrough moment came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where Rousey clinched a bronze medal, becoming the first American to win an Olympic medal in women’s judo. However, this triumph was marred by Rousey’s dissatisfaction with her judo career, leading her to give up the sport and search for a “normal job.”
“I remember being kind of pissed off that I was so good at something that was so useless as a career.”
‘DC’ agreed with Rousey on that, he then added that it is also similar to wrestling considering the athletes don’t make enough money, even after making it to the top.
Rousey added
“They used to tax us on what we took home, and I’m going to give myself credit for this. I just bitched about it enough.”
Rousey’s decision to quit judo and move back in with her mother soon led to a falling out, forcing her to live in her 2005 Honda Accord while working as a waitress and a receptionist at a fitness center. As Rousey later stated, “There’s no better way to get motivated than if you’re homeless. If you’re homeless and not hustling, you’ve got a problem because I was never more motivated to find a place than then.”
Rousey’s resilience and determination paid off, as she went on to become a trailblazing MMA fighter, winning UFC belts and later enjoying a successful stint in professional wrestling. Today, she is a sporting icon, making millions from her exploits in the ring and lucrative endorsement deals.
In 2015, Rousey even managed to make some money from her old Honda Accord, selling it on eBay for $21,300. Her journey from Olympic bronze medalist to living in her car and back to the top of the combat sport world is a good thing.
Rousey wasn’t the only person struggling. Two time Olympic Judo Gold Medalist, Kayla Harrison, also struggled to make a living despite having won two Gold medals. She even put USA judo on blast for offering her a job she couldn’t even support herself with.
