Chiaki Ishii, Brazil's first Olympic medalist in judo, dies

The first Olympic and world medalist of Brazilian judo, Chiaki Ishii, died this Friday (16), at the age of 85. The cause of death was not disclosed. Ishii entered the history of national sport by winning bronze at the Munich Olympics (1972), one year after having secured an unprecedented podium finish for Brazil at the World Championship in Ludwigshafen – at the time West Germany – also with bronze. "Today, Brazilian judo bids farewell to one of its greatest references. Chiaki Ishii was a pioneer who believed in Brazil's potential and helped show the world the strength of our sport. His story lies not only in the medals he won, but also in the athletes he trained, in the teachings he shared, and in the path he opened for so many generations. His contribution will never be forgotten. May his memory remain alive in our sport and continue to inspire all those who wear a judogi," said Paulo Wanderley, president of the Brazilian Judo Confederation (CBJ). Born in Ashikaga (Japan), Chiaki Ishii arrived in Brazil in 1964, at the age of 22, in search of new opportunities, after losing the judo qualifying trials for that year's Olympic Games. He worked as a farmer in a Japanese colony in Presidente Prudente (SP), but it did not take long for him to return to the tatami. In 1969, Chiaki Ishii chose to become a naturalized Brazilian, and two years later he secured bronze at the World Championship in Ludwigshafen, the first for Brazil in the competition. In addition to his world and Olympic podium finishes, Ishii was a four-time champion at the Pan American Games. In an official statement, the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) highlighted Chiaki Ishii's trajectory even after retiring from the tatami as an athlete. "His legacy, however, goes far beyond his results as an athlete. In the academy he maintained in Lapa, in São Paulo, Ishii trained and influenced judokas who carried forward his contribution to the sport," said the entity. "In this moment of deep sadness, the COB expresses its sincere condolences to his family, friends, students, and the entire judo community," it concluded. A member of the COB Hall of Fame, the pioneer of national judo also contributed to the development of new talents who later also shone as Olympic medalists, such as Walter Carmona and Rafael Silva, known as Baby. Chiaki Ishii served as an inspiration for his own daughters, Tânia Chie Ishii and Vânia Yukie Ishii, who followed in judo and represented the country at the Barcelona 1992, Sydney 2000, and Athens 2004 Games. In 2023, Chiaki Ishii was honored with the Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Trophy, awarded to Brazilian athletes who stood out and built a consistent and enduring legacy. For his victorious history, Chiaki Ishii was recognized with the rank of Kodansha 9th Dan – a decoration of the Order of Merit of the CBJ – the highest honor in national judo.