Nowadays, Judo is a universal activity, thanks to the "way of education" that Jigoro Kano created at the end of the 19th century. But for sure, it would not have been possible if, first of all, Anton Geesink had not been the great champion that he was and secondly, he had not become such a fantastic ambassador during and after his sports career.

Everybody remembers the gigantic stature of this Dutch figure whose size was equivalent to his kindness. He was born in April 1934, in Utrecht, and became World Champion for the first time in Paris in 1961, then Olympic Champion in Tokyo in 1964, and again World Champion in Rio in 1965; all of his titles being won either in the heavy weight or in the open category. Besides being the first non-Japanese to win a worldwide title, he also gained 21 European Titles and 17 national titles in the Netherlands.

Mr. Geesink served the IJF as its Education Director from 1985 through 1989 and has also served as a member of the IOC from 1987 until his disappearance (August 27th , 2010). During all his career, Mr. Geesing never stopped fighting for the development of sport throughout the world. His election as a Judoka marked the second time in the history of the IJF that a judoka was elected as a member of the IOC. Anton Geesink was an IJF 10th Dan (attributed in 1997).


The new inductees to the IJF Hall of Fame were confirmed at the IJF Ordinary Congress on the 8th of September 2003
 

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GEESINK, Anton