Anton Geesink taught us dignity in victory

Geesink showed exceptional dignity in victory. As during his world title in Paris in 1961, the Dutch entourage sought to invade the tatami to express their joy. But the victor had barely loosened his grip on Kaminaga when his first unequivocal gesture was to order his countrymen to step back and stay on the sidelines. Much more than his coronation, it was this attitude that filled his master Michigami with pride.

A few days after the Games, the new Olympic champion would touch the hearts of the Japanese public in accepting to participate in several "Japan versus the Rest of the World" tournaments held in four different cities – Fukuoka, Tenri, Nagoya and Sendai. His friend Bruno Carmeni, who had trained for three months in Japan with Geesink before the Olympic Games during which he competed in the lightweight division, accompanied him. The Italian later wrote: "Geesink accepted, even though he made enormous efforts at the Games, while the other medallists Nakatani, Okano, Inokuma and Kaminaga declined. Geesink was considered 'untouchable' and was totally respected."

Through his chivalrous, warrior-like attitude, Geesink had won the eternal respect of an entire people, whom he had nevertheless plunged into deep despair. Japan would never forget his elegance. Subsequently, each of his numerous trips to the Far East, the giant from Utrecht would always receive a welcome worthy of a head of state. Even during his last stay in Japan, well into his 70s, children born well after this page in Tokyo's history would recognise him in the street and bow to him in deference.