Olympic gold medalist Inoue to retire from judoSydney Olympic gold medalist Kosei Inoue announced on Friday that he will retire from judo.
"I have decided that this year will be my last. I have no regrets concerning my judo career," Inoue, 29, said during a press conference in Tokyo's Minato-ku on Friday.
Inoue, who won the gold in the men's 100-kilogram class during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was seeking to take part in his third-straight Olympics.
However, he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the All Japan Judo Championship on Tuesday and failed to earn a spot on the Japan team for the Beijing Olympics.
After retiring, Inoue will study in Britain for two years from as early as this fall, seeking to become a judo instructor in the future.
Inoue won three consecutive titles in the World Judo Championships and All Japan Judo Championship, respectively, but failed to win a medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Friday's press conference was also attended by his mentor, Yasuhiro Yamashita, who currently heads the judo team at Tokai University.
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) May 2, 2008
FONTE (photo include): Mainichi Daily News - Japan
"I have decided that this year will be my last. I have no regrets concerning my judo career," Inoue, 29, said during a press conference in Tokyo's Minato-ku on Friday.
Inoue, who won the gold in the men's 100-kilogram class during the Sydney Olympics in 2000, was seeking to take part in his third-straight Olympics.
However, he was defeated in the quarterfinals of the All Japan Judo Championship on Tuesday and failed to earn a spot on the Japan team for the Beijing Olympics.
After retiring, Inoue will study in Britain for two years from as early as this fall, seeking to become a judo instructor in the future.
Inoue won three consecutive titles in the World Judo Championships and All Japan Judo Championship, respectively, but failed to win a medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Friday's press conference was also attended by his mentor, Yasuhiro Yamashita, who currently heads the judo team at Tokai University.
Click here for the original Japanese story
(Mainichi Japan) May 2, 2008
FONTE (photo include): Mainichi Daily News - Japan
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