5 Most Successful Olympic Ippons

Judo, an art that emphasizes balance, leverage, and technique has been a part of the Olympics since the 1964 Tokyo Games. One of its thrilling aspects is the ippon move, considered the ultimate demonstration of judo skill. An ippon is executed flawlessly so that it immediately ends the match and earns the possible score. Throughout history, there have been memorable ippons that not only led to victories but also left a lasting impact on the sport. Let us take a moment to honor some of these unforgettable ippons.

1. Tadahiro Nomura’s Triple Crown (1996, 2000 2004)

Tadahiro Nomura from Japan is a legend who holds the distinction of winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals. His mastery of ippon techniques, such as his signature ‘seoi nage’ (shoulder throw), was characterized by precision and speed that defined his dominance in the sport. Nomura’s consistent ability to excel at the highest level, finishing matches with ippons truly showcases his skill and commitment. Judo will be highly competitive in the coming Paris 2024 Olympics, and Judo fans can participate with the Coral New Customer Offer to make predictions on the several upcoming Olympic bouts.

2. Yasuhiro Yamashita’s Golden Moment (1984)

Yasuhiro Yamashita, another Japanese judoka is celebrated for his outstanding performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Despite suffering a torn calf muscle during the competition, he managed to claim the gold medal in the division.

In a match against Mohamed Ali Rashwan in the final, he scored an ippon using his large outer reap, showcasing not just his technical skills but also his unwavering determination and spirit.

3. Kosei Inoue’s Spectacular Uchimata (2000)

Competing in the under 100 kg category at the Sydney 2000 Games, Kosei Inoue delivered one of the most spectacular ippons in Olympic history with a flawless uchimata (inner thigh throw) against Canadian Nicolas Gill during the final. This throw was executed with perfection that it has been replayed so many times as a prime example of the technique. Inoue’s blend of elegance and strength truly made this ippon memorable.

4. Kayla Harrison’s Historic Wins (2012, 2016)

Kayla Harrison from the United States created history by clinching two gold medals in judo making her the first American to achieve this feat in 2012 and 2016. Renowned for her expertise on the ground, Harrison often secured ippons through arm locks and pins. Her powerful armlock that led to an ippon against France’s Audrey Tcheumeo in the 2012 final highlighted her skill and strategic prowess on the mat.

 5. Anton Geesink's Groundbreaking Victory (1964)

In 1964, Dutch judoka Anton Geesink created history by becoming the first non-Japanese judoka to claim an Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games. His pivotal ippon victory over Akio Kaminaga with a ground hold (osaekomi) in the open category final challenged the dominance of judokas on their home turf. Geesink’s triumph marked a huge milestone in judo history underscoring the sport’s global reach.