{{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, 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| Olympic Games }} {{Medal|G| 1984 Los Angeles | +95 kg }} {{Medal|G| 1988 Seoul | +95 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| World Championships }} {{Medal|G| 1983 Moscow | Open }} {{Medal|S| 1985 Seoul | +95 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| Asian Games }} {{Medal|G| 1986 Seoul | +95 kg }} {{Medal|Competition| Asian Championships }} {{Medal|G| 1981 Jakarta | +95 kg }} {{Medal|G| 1984 Kuwait City | +95 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 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 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