Sueo Oe

Sueo Oe’s first international achievements came in 1934 with a first place in the pole vault at the Far Eastern Games, and in 1935 at the 6th International University Games in Budapest, where he placed second. At the 1936 Berlin Olympics he and Shuhei Nishida jumped-off for the silver medal but then elected to share the medals. The Japanese team leaders decided to award the silver medal to Nishida as the elder and bronze to Oe. On their return, they cut the medals in half and had them welded together as silver / bronze medals. In 1936 and 1937, he set Japanese records of 4.34 and 4.35 metres, respectively.

After graduating from Keio University, Oe joined Toyo Knitting Company in 1938 but continued his active career, winning his only title at the Japan Athletics Championship. One year later, he was called to service in World War II and died in a battle on the Philippine island of Luzon.

Personal Best: PV – 4.35 (1937).