Disgraced Judo Olympian Resurfaces At Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
Disgraced Judo Olympian Resurfaces At Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
An Olympic gold medalist jailed for rape and ostracized by the judo community was seen competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament.
An Olympic gold medalist jailed for rape and ostracized by the judo community was seen competing in a jiu-jitsu tournament this past weekend.
Masato Uchishiba, 39, was sentenced to five years in prison for the rape of a college student in 2011.
A two-time Olympic champion, Uchishiba won gold for Japan in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008 in the 66kg division.
On Sunday, Uchishiba won double gold (middleweight and openweight) in the masters blue belt divisions of the ASJJF Dumau Japan Open Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2017 in Samukawa, a town about 30 minutes south of Yokohama. His participation in the tournament was first reported by Global Training Report.
Uchishiba had five matches, of which he won all via submission (four armbars and a choke from mount).
Masato Uchishiba in first place on the podium. Photo: Global Training Report
Arrested in 2011, Uchishiba was working as a coach for a women’s judo team at the Kyushu University of Nursing and Social Welfare when he assaulted his victim. On February 1, 2013, he was sentenced to five years in prison after unsuccessfully appealing the verdict.
Uchishiba was handed a ban from competing in judo tournaments by the All Japan Judo Federation.
Watch two of Uchishiba's matches below: