Keith Nakasone (born January 20, 1956) is a former competitive

judoka is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...

and native of

Okinawa, Japan is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 Square kilometre, km2 (880 sq mi). ...

. Nakasone is a four time (1974–1977) national collegiate judo champion at San Jose State University competing in the 132 lbs division. In 1978, Keith suffered a serious ankle injury. Nakasone qualified for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team but did not compete due to the U.S. Olympic Committee's boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union. He is one of 461 U.S. Olympians to receive a

Congressional Gold Medal The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress's highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions. The congressional pract ...

as a member of the 1980 Olympic team.

References

Living people 1956 births American male judoka American people of Okinawan descent Congressional Gold Medal recipients American sportspeople of Japanese descent {{US-judo-bio-stub