Osamu Watanabe

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Osamu Watanabe (渡辺 長武, Watanabe Osamu, October 21, 1940–October 1, 2022) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1962, he debuted internationally and retired shortly after the 1964 Olympics. During his brief career Watanabe won all his few hundred bouts.[2] He is considered one of the best wrestlers in Olympic history.[3]

Osamu Watanabe
Osamu Watanabe at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1940-10-21)October 21, 1940
Wassamu, Hokkaido, Japan
DiedOctober 1, 2022(2022-10-01) (aged 81)
Tokyo, Japan
Alma materChuo University[1]
Height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
SportFreestyle wrestling
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo 63 kg
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1962 Toledo 63 kg
Gold medal – first place 1963 Sofia 63 kg
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1962 Jakarta 63 kg

In the early 2000s Watanabe resumed competing internationally in the masters category.[4] He died of a heart attack on October 1, 2022.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Osamu Watanabe at the Encyclopædia Britannica
  2. ^ The numbers vary from 187 to 300+ (Britannica)
  3. ^ "FLAWLESS WATANABE SECURES FEATHERWEIGHT WRESTLING GOLD". olympic.org. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  4. ^ Osamu Watanabe. ssf.or.jp
  5. ^ 渡辺長武さんが死去、心臓発作で 64年東京五輪金メダリスト レスリング協会発表 (in Japanese)