View source for Hitoshi Saito

{{Short description|Japanese judoka (1961–2015)}}
{{For|Japanese athlete (born 1986)|Hitoshi Saito (athlete)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox judoka
| image       = Hitoshi Saito en los Juegos Olímpicos de Seúl (1988).jpg
| image_size  = <!-- only when absolutely necessary -->
| alt         = 
| caption     = Saito at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]]
| birth_date  = January 2, 1961
| birth_place = [[Aomori, Aomori|Aomori]], [[Japan]]
| death_date  = January 20, 2015 (aged 54)
| death_place = [[Osaka]], Japan
| height      = 1.80 m
| weight      = 143 kg
<!-- Sport -->
| country      = [[Japan]]
| weight_class = +95 kg, Open
| rank         = <!-- Belt color ONLY. Automated when "dan" is used. -->
| rank_ref     = 
| dan          = 9
| club         = 
<!-- Achievements and titles -->
| worlds_rank       = 1
| worlds_year       = 1983
| worlds_weight     = <!-- Men's Open -->
| regionals_type    = AS
| regionals_rank    = 1
| regionals_year    = 1981
| regionals_weight  = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| regionals_year2   = 1984
| regionals_weight2 = <!-- Optional – To link to specific weightclass competition article (when one exists) -->
| regionals_year3   = 1986
| regionals_weight3 = <!-- Men's +95 kg -->
| nationals         = 
| olympics_rank     = 1
| olympics_year     = 1984
| olympics_weight   = Men's +95 kg
| olympics_year2    = 1988
| olympics_weight2  = Men's +95 kg
<!-- Medal record -->
| show-medals    = 
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport| Men's [[judo]] }}
{{Medal|Country| {{JPN}} }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Judo at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[Judo at the 1984 Summer Olympics|1984&nbsp;Los&nbsp;Angeles]] | [[Judo at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's +95 kg|+95&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[Judo at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988&nbsp;Seoul]] | [[Judo at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's +95 kg|+95&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[World Judo Championships|World Championships]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[1983 World Judo Championships|1983&nbsp;Moscow]] | [[1983 World Judo Championships – Men's Open|Open]] }}
{{Medal|S| [[1985 World Judo Championships|1985&nbsp;Seoul]] | [[1985 World Judo Championships – Men's +95 kg|+95&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Judo at the Asian Games|Asian Games]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[Judo at the 1986 Asian Games|1986&nbsp;Seoul]] | [[Judo at the 1986 Asian Games – Men's +95 kg|+95&nbsp;kg]] }}
{{Medal|Competition| [[Asian Judo Championships|Asian Championships]] }}
{{Medal|G| [[1981 Asian Judo Championships|1981&nbsp;Jakarta]] | +95&nbsp;kg }}
{{Medal|G| [[1984 Asian Judo Championships|1984&nbsp;Kuwait&nbsp;City]] | +95&nbsp;kg }}
| updated = June 18, 2023
}}

{{nihongo|'''Hitoshi Saito'''|斉藤 仁|Saitō Hitoshi|extra=January 2, 1961 – January 20, 2015}} was a Japanese [[judoka]] who won two consecutive gold medals at the Olympic games.<ref name=sr>{{cite Sports-Reference |title=Hitoshi Saito |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/hitoshi-saito-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203221518/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sa/hitoshi-saito-1.html |archive-date=3 December 2016}}</ref>

==Biography==
{{wikinews|Japanese Olympic judoka Hitoshi Saito dies aged 54}}
Saito began judo in junior high school, and in 1974, he was scouted to transfer to the Kokushikan Junior High School, located in [[Setagaya, Tokyo]]. He continued to practice judo at the Kokushikan high school, and won the inter-high school judo group competition during his junior year. He entered [[Kokushikan University]] in 1979, and faced [[Yasuhiro Yamashita]] a total of 7 times in the finals of the [[All-Japan Judo Championships]], [[Jigoro Kano Cup]], and All-Japan University Judo Championships. He lost to Yamashita in each tournament final, but drew with him several times during other matches. Saito continued to work at Kokushikan University after graduating in 1983, and won the gold medal in the heavyweight (+95&nbsp;kg) division of the [[1984 Summer Olympics]] and in the open weight division of the [[1983 World Judo Championships]]. In the [[1985 World Judo Championships]], he faced [[Cho Yong-Chul]] of [[South Korea]] and was forced to retire from the match after his arm was dislocated by a standing armlock applied by Cho. He also injured his right knee prior to the All-Japan Championships in 1987, but made his return at the 1988 All-Japan Championships, winning the championship for the first time to gain his second trip to the Olympic games. Saito faced [[Cho Yong-Chul]] again in the semi-finals of the [[Judo at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Summer Olympics]], competing under tremendous pressure after every other Japanese judoka in the 1988 Olympics had been defeated before reaching the finals. He defeated Cho by decision, and won the final against [[Henry Stöhr]] to capture his second Olympic gold medal.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131225005557/http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1988/JUD/mens-heavyweight.html Judo at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games: Men's Heavyweight]. sports-reference.com</ref>

Saito retired from competition shortly after his second Olympics as an athlete and became an instructor for Kokushikan University and the All Japan Judo Federation. He also served as a coach for the Japanese judo team during the [[2004 Summer Olympics]].  He was also on friendly terms with his former great rival, [[Yasuhiro Yamashita]]. Yamashita was the only judoka who was able to defeat Saito.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Saito is the father of [[2022 World Judo Championships]] silver medalist and 2022 All-Japan open weight champion, [[Tatsuru Saito]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ijf.org/judoka/44248|title=Tatsuru SAITO / IJF.org|website=www.ijf.org|accessdate=March 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://blackbeltmag.com/tatsuru-saito | title=Son of Judo Legend Wins All-Japan Championships | date=May 3, 2022 }}</ref>

He died aged 54 from [[cholangiocarcinoma]], a rare but rapidly progressing and incurable form of liver cancer.<ref>[http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150120p2g00m0sp057000c.html Two-time Olympic judo champion Saito dies at age 54] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123000051/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20150120p2g00m0sp057000c.html |date=January 23, 2015 }}. mainichi.jp. January 20, 2015</ref><ref>[http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2015/01/20/more-sports/judo/ex-olympic-judo-champ-saito-dies/#.VL5jRSxhi8M Ex-Olympic judo champ Saito dies]. Japan Times. January 20, 2015</ref>  After his death Saito was promoted by the [[Kodokan]] to 9th [[dan rank]] in judo and was also awarded the [[Order of the Rising Sun]], Gold Rays with Rosette by the Japanese Emperor.<ref>http://www.judo.or.jp/english/p/31818l {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Sports links}}
<!-- * {{Sports reference}} already in References & current website Olympedia displayed via {{Sports links}} -->
* {{The-Sports}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions Judo Heavyweight Men}}
{{WC Judo Men's Openweight}}
{{All-Japan Judo Champions}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saito, Hitoshi}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Japanese male judoka]]
[[Category:Olympic judoka for Japan]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Japan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Aomori (city)]]
[[Category:Martial artists from Aomori Prefecture]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in judo]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in judo]]
[[Category:World judo champions]]
[[Category:Judoka at the 1986 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Deaths from cholangiocarcinoma in Japan]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1984 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Japan]]
[[Category:Asian Games judoka for Japan]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1986 Asian Games]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportsmen]]