Judo, morto il grande campione Toshihiko Koga: oro a Barcellona 1992, aveva il cancro - Toshihiko Koga: An Artist Has Gone

Lutto nel mondo del judo. A 53 anni è morto Toshihiko Koga, oro alle Olimpiadi di Barcellona del 1992. 
Era malato di cancro ed è scomparso a Kawasaki, nella sua casa nei pressi di Tokyo. 
Toshihiko Koga - Fotos | IMAGO
Il tre volte olimpionico era ricoverato da quasi un anno ed era stato scelto per la staffetta della torcia olimpica, ma purtroppo non potrà prendere parte all’evento né vedere i Giochi organizzati dal proprio paese.

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The news fell overnight: Toshihiko Koga (JPN) passed away at the age of 53. Suddenly the world of judo almost stopped spinning, but then, within a few minutes, social networks began to flood with thousands of messages to remember the great champion; innumerable 'flowers' representing the blanket of influence and inspiration that the Japanese giant leaves behind him.
Some champions are remembered more than others because they have that little extra sparkle that propels them into another dimension. Toshihiko Koga is one of those legends and those who knew him will regret his hasty departure. Those who dreamed of meeting him one day will feel the loss, the lack of an encounter that will never take place.
Three-time Olympian (Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996), Koga reached the Olympic holy grail in 1992 in Barcelona, before winning silver in Atlanta four years later. He was also three times world champion (Belgrade 1989, Barcelona 1991 and Chiba 1995).
If his record is undeniably one of the most extensive in world judo and if his tenure as a respected and appreciated coach of the Japanese national team isn’t enough, what judo fans will remember, above all about the man, is the creativity he displayed throughout his career. Champion in two different categories (-71 and -78kg), he engraved planet judo with his legendary ippon-seoi-nage, his morote-seoi-nage with one hand and his sode-tsuri-komi-goshi with the reverse entry. He said, "I think you always have to have an open mind to take new approaches and new paths in solving problems." This was his motto and he applied it until the very end of his life.
It is certain that Toshihiko Koga will continue to be emulated among the youth, seeking to imitate the artists of the tatami. The entire judo family joins in the sadness that the news of his death has caused and offers its most sincere condolences to his family and friends, to the All Japan Judo Federation and to all those whom have been dreaming of his creativity for so many years. Thank you to the artist!