George Harris

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGeorge Lee•Harris
Used nameGeorge•Harris
Born15 January 1933 in Kittrell, North Carolina (USA)
Died7 January 2011 in Brick, New Jersey (USA)
Measurements189 cm / 100 kg
AffiliationsTravis Judo Club
NOC United States

Biography

Although he started out as a boxer in Philadelphia, George Harris learned judo after enlisting in the Air Force and eventually became a judo instructor for the Strategic Air Command. He would eventually win six Air Force judo championships, four AAU judo championships, was on the first US Olympic judo team at the 1964 Olympics, and won the 1963 Pan American Games gold medal in the heavyweight class. He eventually reached ninth-degree black belt, the highest ranking ever among United States’ judoka. After leaving the Air Force, Harris became an international businessman and taught contract negotiation around the world. He continued to teach judo and other martial arts in New Jersey, where he settled, and in 1979 he starred as martial arts coach in the movie “The Year of the Gentle Tiger”.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1964 Summer Olympics Judo USA George Harris
Heavyweight, Men (Olympic) =6

Special Notes