Anton Geesink
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Antonius Johannes Geesink (6 April 1934 – 27 August 2010)[1][2] was a Dutch 10th dan judoka. He was the first non-Japanese judoka to win gold at the World Judo Championships, a feat he accomplished in 1961 and 1965. He was also an Olympic Champion, having won gold at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Japan, and won a record 21 European Judo Championships during his career.[3]
.jpg)
Geesink took up judo at age 14 and, by 17, started competing internationally, winning a silver medal in 1951.[3] He won his first European title the following year. Through to 1967, twenty more European titles followed.
At the 1956 World Championships, Geesink was eliminated in the semi-finals against Yoshihiko Yoshimatsu.[5] At the 1961 World Championships, Geesink, then 5th dan,[6] became World Champion in the open class, defeating the Japanese champion Koji Sone. Japanese judokas had won all the World Championship titles contested up to that point.
Judo debuted as an official sport at the 1964 Summer Olympics, held in the sport's home country, Japan. Although Japan dominated three of the four weight divisions (light, middle, and heavy), Anton Geesink won the final of the open weight division, defeating Akio Kaminaga in front of his home crowd.[7][1]
After winning the 1965 World Championships and a last European title in 1967, Geesink quit competitive judo.
Anton Geesink was one of the few 10th Dan grade judoka (jūdan) recognized by the IJF but not by the Kodokan Institute at that rank. Promotions from 6th to 10th Dan are awarded for services to the sport of judo. In 2010 there are three living 10th dan grade judoka (jūdan) recognized by Kodokan: Toshiro Daigo, Ichiro Abe and Yoshimi Osawa. The Kodokan has not awarded the 10th Dan to anybody outside Japan.
Professional wrestling career
In October 1973, All Japan Pro Wrestling owner Giant Baba recruited Anton Geesink, sending him to Amarillo, TX, to train under Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk for a month. He debuted in Odessa for their promotion, NWA Western States, on October 16th, before touring as a popular part-timer for All Japan from November 24th, 1973, to February 5th, 1978.
Geesink's notable professional wrestling opponents included Bruno Sammartino, Gorilla Monsoon, Killer Kowalski, Dick Beyer, Dick Murdoch, Dory Funk Jr., Harley Race, Bob Backlund, Bobby Duncum, Sgt. Slaughter, The Iron Sheik, Stan Hansen, Don Leo Jonathan, Horst Hoffman, and Jumbo Tsuruta.
Films and publications
_Anton_Geesink_(als_rech…,_Bestanddeelnr_913-7461.jpg)
Geesink made his acting debut in 1962, playing a detective in the Dutch film Rififi in Amsterdam. In 1965, he starred as Samson in the Italian historical film Gideon and Samson: Great Leaders of the Bible, and in the 1960s-1980s, he took part in three Dutch TV series, including the children's show Oebele, where he also sang the song "Judo rock". In the 1960s he published several books on judo in Dutch and English.[8]
International Olympic Committee work
In 1986 during the Maastricht IJF DC meeting Geesink proposed that one player should wear a blue Judogi.[9]
In 1987, Geesink became a member of the board of the Dutch National Olympic Committee, and a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Geesink was among the IOC members suspected of accepting bribes during the scandal surrounding the election of Salt Lake City as the host of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Geesink's name was cleared by the IOC which nevertheless issued him a warning for the appearance of a conflict of interest which could have damaged the reputation of the IOC. Geesink continued working for IOC until his death in 2010.[1]
Personal life and death
Geesink was born and raised in Utrecht. His family was poor and he started work as a builder aged 12. He died in 2010 aged 76 in the town of his birth. He was survived by Jans Geesink, his wife of more than 50 years; his sons Willy and Anton Jr.; and daughter, Leni.[3]
