Sawao Kato

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameSawao•Kato
Used nameSawao•Kato
Original name加藤•澤男
Born11 October 1946 in Gosen, Niigata (JPN)
Measurements163 cm / 59 kg
NOC Japan
Medals OG
Gold 8
Silver 3
Bronze 1
Total 12

Biography

Japan’s Sawao Kato set an Olympic record for men by winning eight gold medals in gymnastics. He was a member of the winning all-around team in 1968, 1972 and 1976, and also won the individual title on the first two occasions, but he had to settle for a silver medal in 1976. His other gold medals came in the individual floor exercises (1968) and the individual parallel bars (1972, 1976). Strangely, Kato never won an individual championship of any kind at the World Championships, but he was on the winning Japanese team in 1974.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) JPN Sawao Kato
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Japan 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =5 r1/2
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 3 r1/2
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) =3 r1/2
Rings, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) =8 r1/2
1972 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) JPN Sawao Kato
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Japan 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) 6
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =4
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
Rings, Men (Olympic) 4
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
1976 Summer Olympics Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) JPN Sawao Kato
Individual All-Around, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
Team All-Around, Men (Olympic) Japan 1 Gold
Floor Exercise, Men (Olympic) 5
Horse Vault, Men (Olympic) =7 r1/1
Parallel Bars, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
Horizontal Bar, Men (Olympic) 4 r1/1
Rings, Men (Olympic) 6
Pommelled Horse, Men (Olympic) 5

Olympic family relations

Special Notes