Bunta Suzuki

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameBunta•Suzuki
Used nameBunta•Suzuki
Original name鈴木•聞多
Born1 April 1913 in Mionoya, Kawajima, Saitama (JPN)
Died10 July 1939 in ?, Henan (CHN)
AffiliationsKeio University, Minato (JPN)
NOC Japan

Biography

While attending Kawagoe High School Bunta Suzuki participated in the 16th National Junior High School Athletics Championships in 1930, winning the 100 and 200 metres. In 1933 he won the 200 at the Japan Athletics Championships. In the following year he entered the Faculty of Law of the Keio University. He represented Japan at the 10th Far Eastern Games in Manila, placing third in the 200, and at the 6th International University Games in Budapest, placing second in the 100 m and third in the 200 metres. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, however, he failed to advance to the semi-final of the 100 and, running the second leg in the 4x100 m relay, missed the baton in the first heat. After graduating from university, Suzuki briefly worked for the Hitachi Company before joining the Imperial Japanese Army as a volunteer. He was transferred to the Chinese front in 1939 and was killed that year on the northern bank of the Yellow River. At home, the death of the Olympic athlete was used to lift up the fighting spirits of the Japanese, and a great funeral was held.

Personal Best: 100 – 10.6 (1934).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics JPN Bunta Suzuki
100 metres, Men (Olympic) 4 h4 r2/4
200 metres, Men (Olympic) DNS
4 × 100 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Japan AC h1 r1/2

Special Notes