Chiaki Ishii Dies at 85
Chiaki Ishii, who secured Brazil’s first Olympic medal in judo, died on Friday at the age of 85, local sports authorities announced.
Born in Ashikaga, Japan, and later naturalized as a Brazilian citizen, Ishii made history at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Competing in the -93 kg category, he claimed the bronze medal to put Brazil on the Olympic judo podium for the first time. Prior to that milestone, he also captured a bronze medal at the 1971 World Championships, becoming the nation’s first medalist in the sport at that level.
Olympic Legacy and Brazilian Judo Growth
“The master paved the way for generations of athletes,” the Brazilian Olympic Committee stated in an official note. Paulo Wanderley, president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation, remembered Ishii as a pioneer who “believed in the potential of Brazil and helped show to the world” the strength of the South American country in the discipline.
Brazil has since grown into one of the leading judo nations, accumulating 28 Olympic medals, consisting of five gold, four silver, and 19 bronze. The country stands ninth in the historic Olympic judo medal table, which is led by Japan.
Coaching the Next Generation in Sao Paulo
Following his competitive career, Ishii opened a judo academy in the Lapa district of Sao Paulo. The dojo served as a training ground for elite competitors, including Olympic medalists Walter Carmona, who took bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Games in the -86 kg division, and Rafael “Baby” Silva, who earned bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games in the +100 kg category.
Worth a look
