Tadao Okayama

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameTadao•Okayama
Used nameTadao•Okayama
Original name岡山•忠雄
Born5 July 1913 in Tomari, Sakhalin (RUS)
Died28 May 1998
AffiliationsTomari Ski Club
NOC Japan

Biography

Tadao Okayama was born in the former Japanese part of the island of Sakhalin and worked in the family’s milk delivery business. In 1935, he placed second in the endurance cross country race over 56 km behind non-Olympian Sakuji Okazaki, who was not eligible to compete in the Olympics due to age restrictions. Therefore, Okayama was selected for the Japanese team at the 1936 Winter Olympics to compete in the 50 km cross country race. After World War II, he settled in the Niigata prefecture and worked as a teacher in Myoko. Okayama also served as chairman of the Niigata Prefecture Ski Association. His son Koichiro later became vice chairman of the Ski Association of Japan.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Winter Olympics Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) JPN Tadao Okayama
50 kilometres, Men (Olympic) 34