The 21-year-old Ukrainian will be joined by Brazilian Flávio Canto for the project backed by the International Judo Federation (IJF) project.

Known as IJF Judo Stories Tour and launched by Chuck Jefferson, the initiative will introduce athletes to people in the American state who are unfamiliar with the sport.

Clinics will be held at dojos with Bilodid and Canto, who are both Olympic bronze medallists, the first to take part.

"I want to thank the IJF for helping bring this dream to fruition," said Jefferson. 

"For nearly 10 years, my partners in Southern California and I have brought the best, most inspirational judoka from across the world to share their stories and knowledge with the judo community. 

"With the LA 2028 Olympics just around the corner, the IJF Judo Stories Tour will inspire the next generation of judoka, not only in our dojos but in our schools. 

"We're excited to promote the values of judo, build awareness of our sport and increase the number of judo fans and practitioners in California as we move towards the LA 2028 Olympics."

Bilodid won the women's under-48 kilograms world title back-to-back, in 2018 and 2019.

Her first triumph came when she was just 17, making her the youngest judo world champion in history.

She added Olympic bronze at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games last year and will visit California between January 18 and 23.

Forty-seven-year-old Canto won bronze at the Athens 2004 Olympics in the men's under-81kg division.

He will be in California between October 23 and 29 and is also an IJF climate ambassador.

Both judoka will visit CJ Judo and Shimeru, as well as local schools.