Anton Geesink

Anton Geesink (1934 to 2010) was a Dutch judoka from Utrecht who broke Japan's hold on the sport. He took up judo at fourteen, won his first European title in 1952 and went on to win a record 21 European championships. In 1961 he became the first non-Japanese world champion in the open class, and he won the open weight final at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, the first Olympics to include judo, beating Akio Kaminaga before a Japanese crowd. He retired from competition after a last European title in 1967 and was recognised at the 10th dan by the International Judo Federation. In the 1970s he also toured Japan as a part-time professional wrestler for All Japan Pro Wrestling, and he later served on the International Olympic Committee.