Mongolia’s New President Is a Badass Judo Expert and Olympic Gold-Winning Coach
![Mongolia’s New President Is a Badass Judo Expert and Olympic Gold-Winning Coach](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Judoka-Battulga-Mongolia.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85&blur=80)
![Mongolia’s New President Is a Badass Judo Expert and Olympic Gold-Winning Coach](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Judoka-Battulga-Mongolia.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
Maybe Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has a chance at the Oval Office after all.
![New Mongolia's president Khaltmaa Battulga speaks during his inauguration ceremony in Ulaanbaatar](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Khaltmaa-Battulga-875.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
On July 7th, Mongolians elected their new president, Khaltmaa Battulga, after the most divisive election in the country’s history, according to the Washington Post. Battulga has previously served as a member of parliament since 2004, being re-elected in 2008 and 2012. He is also a world champion in Sambo and is responsible for leading Mongolia to its first ever gold medal win in Judo in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Battulga ran a campaign against his opponent, Miyegombo Enkhbold, that relied heavily on “Sinophobia, nationalism, and fearmongering“, with many of his supporters accusing Enkhbold of having Chinese heritage and, therefore, supposedly not being a true son of Mongolia.
His campaign’s slogan was “Mongol Ylna,” which can be translated to “a Mongol will triumph,” promoting the notion that only Battulga could claim such lineage.
![Battulga Horses](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Battulga-Horses.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
The polls were extremely close, with Battulga emerging victorious after winning 50.6% of the vote.
![Mongolia President Battulga](https://nextshark.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Battulga.jpg?width=1536&auto_optimize=medium&quality=85)
Battulga will take his place as Mongolia’s 5th president, succeeding Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj after a successful two terms in office.
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