Osamu Watanabe

Osamu Watanabe (渡辺 長武, Watanabe Osamu; October 21, 1940 – October 1, 2022) was a Japanese freestyle wrestler. In 1962, he debuted internationally and retired shortly after the 1964 Olympics. During his brief career Watanabe won all his few hundred bouts.^[2] He is considered one of the best wrestlers in Olympic history.^[3]

Osamu Watanabe

Osamu Watanabe at the 1964 Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1940-10-21)October 21, 1940 Wassamu, Hokkaido, Japan
Died	October 1, 2022(2022-10-01) (aged 81) Tokyo, Japan
Alma mater	Chuo University[1]
Height	1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Sport	Freestyle wrestling
Medal record Representing  Japan Olympic Games 1964 Tokyo 63 kg World Championships 1962 Toledo 63 kg 1963 Sofia 63 kg Asian Games 1962 Jakarta 63 kg

In the early 2000s Watanabe resumed competing internationally in the masters category.^[4] He died of a heart attack on October 1, 2022.^[5]