Japanese Judo competitor and three-time Olympic gold medalist. He won gold in 1996, 2000, and 2004, all in the 60 kg weight class.
He began learning judo from his grandfather when he was six years old.
He won the Olympic gold medal in the extra lightweight division 3 years in a row from 1996 to 2004.
His uncle, Toyokazu Nomura, won a gold medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
He won gold at the 2004 Olympics where Swimmer Michael Phelps won six gold medals.
