Hüseyin Özkan was born in Chechnya in 1972. Inspired by relatives and friends around him taking up sports, he began judo at the age of 10. Three months after starting the sport, he won his first medal, finishing third in his first competition. This achievement became one of the key sources of motivation for his sporting career.

At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Özkan competed in the 66 kg category and won Türkiye’s first-ever gold medal in judo. He defeated his French opponent Larbi Benboudaoud by ippon in the final. This Olympic championship came in the 18th year of his judo career. In addition to this triumph, he also earned important results such as a European championship title and a world silver medal.

Özkan ended his active competitive career in 2003 due to an injury. He served for three years at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Sports Club after 2002. He was later appointed as technical director of the national team, where he led the squad during the London and Rio Olympic cycles, sharing his knowledge and experience with athletes.

Since 2009, Özkan has served as the judo technical director at Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Kağıtspor. Operating under the Türkiye Olympic Preparation Centers (TOHM) framework, he has made significant contributions to the training camps of the junior and youth national teams. Özkan has emphasized that Kocaeli has a strong judo infrastructure and has taken an active role in the development of young athletes.

Hüseyin Özkan emphasizes that sport is not limited to physical training alone; discipline, nutrition, sleep patterns, and respect are fundamental components of the sporting process. He has adopted an educational approach centered on these values to instill a professional mindset in his athletes. Özkan has produced medalists in all major international competitions outside the Olympics, and his ultimate goal is for his athletes to win Olympic medals.

Hüseyin Özkan continues to serve as technical director at Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Kağıtspor. He also supports national team coaches, shares his experience with athletes from other disciplines, and guides athletes preparing for the Olympics. Drawing on the experience gained through his careers as an athlete and coach, he continues to contribute to Turkish judo.