Toshihiko Koga

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Toshihiko Koga
Personal information
Nickname平成の三四郎 
Judoka
Websitewww.kogatoshihiko.jp Edit this at Wikidata
Sport
CountryJapan
SportJudo
Weight class–‍71 kg, –‍78 kg
Rank     9th dan black belt[1]
Achievements and titles
Olympic GamesGold (1992)
World Champ.Gold (
1995)
Asian Champ.Bronze (
1990
)
Medal record
Men's judo
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1992 Barcelona ‍–‍71 kg
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta ‍–‍78 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1989 Belgrade ‍–‍71 kg
Gold medal – first place 1991 Barcelona ‍–‍71 kg
Gold medal – first place 1995 Chiba
‍–‍78 kg
Bronze medal – third place 1987 Essen ‍–‍71 kg
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Beijing ‍–‍71 kg
World Juniors Championships
Gold medal – first place 1986 Rome ‍–‍71 kg
Profile at external databases
IJF26807
JudoInside.com2891
Updated on 4 June 2023.

Toshihiko Koga (古賀 稔彦, Koga Toshihiko, 21 November 1967 – 24 March 2021

judoka, 9th degree black belt and Olympic champion who competed in the –71 kg and –78 kg divisions.[3] Koga is regarded as having perhaps the greatest ippon seoi nage
ever. He died of cancer on 24 March 2021 at the age of 53.

Biography

Koga was born in

Ippon Seoinage.[4] He won the gold medal overcoming this injury, and was given the JOC Sports Award by the Japanese Olympic Committee
.

Koga briefly retired from competitive judo after his victory at the Olympics, but made his return with a gold medal at the

Chiba, Japan. He suffered a surprising defeat by ippon in a qualification match for the 1996 Summer Olympics
, but was chosen as the representative anyway because of his past experience in the Olympic games. He ended his third appearance at the Olympics with a silver medal in the -78 kg division.

Koga announced his final retirement from competition in 2000, and became the head coach for the All-Japan women's judo team. In April 2003, he founded the Koga Juku, a judo school for young children, in

Akaiwa, Okayama) in April 2007, and has enjoyed celebrity status in Japan as an 8th dan rank[5]
holder in judo, appearing on several national television shows.

One day before his death he was promoted to the rank of 9th dan by the Kodokan.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mr. Toshihiko Koga promoted to 9th dan in honor of his great achievement, generally up to 8th dan". Yahoo! Japan (in Japanese). 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  2. ^ 「平成の三四郎」古賀稔彦氏死去 バルセロナ五輪金 (in Japanese)
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Toshihiko Koga". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016.
  4. ^ Nicksan, Philip (15 July 1996). "Koga the Mystic of the Mat". The Independent (London). Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  5. ^ https://www.pref.saga.lg.jp/kiji00370197/3_70197_145243_up_wzwkjppw.pdf [bare URL PDF]

External links