(ATR) Anton Geesink, the judoka from the Netherlands who stunned Japan with his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, died Aug. 27 in Utrecht after hospitalization for an undisclosed illness.
Geesink, who won the open (heavyweight) class in judo in 1964, the debut of the sport in the Olympics, went on to enjoy for years after adulation in Japan for his success on the tatami in Tokyo.
In Netherlands, he was a sports leader, organizing and developing judo, consulted on sports matters by the government.
In 1987 he was elected to the IOC and was 16th in seniority.
The Prince of Orange, Willem Allexander, is the other member of the IOC from Netherlands.
"Anton Geesink was a great sportsman, unforgettable," is how the Crown Prince was quoted in De Telegraaf reacting to Geesink’s death.
"He was active as an athlete and then as director of the Dutch and international sports movement was very significant , "said Willem Alexander.
"A great champion" is how Hein Verbruggen, former IOC member and now president of Sport Accorddescribed his countryman.
Geesink’s gold medal in 1964 should have come at no surprise to the partisan crowd in Japan; three times he had been crowned world champion before the Olympics.
Funeral or memorial details were not immediately available.
He is survived by his wife Johanna and three children,four grandchildren.
Written by Ed Hula.