Kosei Inoue is a judoka who has followed up a formidable career by becoming coach of the Japanese national team. A flagbearer for his country at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, he also won his first gold medal in the -100kg category.
Kosei Inoue is a judoka who has followed up a formidable career by becoming coach of the Japanese national team. A flagbearer for his country at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, he also won his first gold medal in the -100kg category.
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Inoue defeated Nicolas Gill of Canada in the final. He carried a photo of his mother, who had died one year prior to the Games, onto the podium. "To me, she was the best mother in the world and I wanted the world to see her," Inoue said at the time.
Inoue defeated Nicolas Gill of Canada in the final. He carried a photo of his mother, who had died one year prior to the Games, onto the podium. "To me, she was the best mother in the world and I wanted the world to see her," Inoue said at the time.
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Inoue coached Japan at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where his team came away with 12 medals -- including three gold.
Inoue coached Japan at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where his team came away with 12 medals -- including three gold.
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"We look at judo not only as a sport but as a 'budo,' or martial way," Inoue tells CNN. "There is the competition -- we come to a World Championships and aim to win a gold medal -- but there is something far bigger behind this."
"We look at judo not only as a sport but as a 'budo,' or martial way," Inoue tells CNN. "There is the competition -- we come to a World Championships and aim to win a gold medal -- but there is something far bigger behind this."
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Inoue delights the home crowd by throwing Ghislain Lemaire of France to win gold at the 2003 World Championships in Osaka.
Inoue delights the home crowd by throwing Ghislain Lemaire of France to win gold at the 2003 World Championships in Osaka.
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Inoue sits dejected after a loss to Dutch opponent Elco van Der Geest in men's -100 kg competition at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Inoue sits dejected after a loss to Dutch opponent Elco van Der Geest in men's -100 kg competition at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
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