Tokyo, Japan, July 24, 2021: At the spiritual home of judo, the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Naohisa Takato had the honour of being Japan's first gold medallist at the 2020 Olympic Games after beating Yang Yung Wei of Chinese Taipei in the judo men's -60kg contest.
Takato was the bronze medallist in the same event at Rio 2016 – and this disappointment from five years ago has been a driving force for the three-time world champion.
Speaking immediately after his win, the 28-year-old judoka with tears in his eyes said: "I think this result was achieved with the support of everyone. I'm really glad that I was able to achieve this result because I've been causing so much trouble for my coaches.
"I am glad to have achieved this result. I wasn't able to win boldly, but this is my judo. Thank you very much for your support."
Yang, 23, was Chinese Taipei's first medallist of these Olympic Games and the nation's first ever medallist in Olympic judo. He was clearly deflated after being penalised for three infractions in the final but still saw the positive of a silver medal.
"It means a great deal to me," he told reporters in a press conference. "I actually was aiming for the gold medal so I'm not fully satisfied with the result. I'm still young so I will definitely aim higher."
The two bronze medals went to Kazakhstan's Yeldos Smetov and Luka Mkheidze of France.
In attendance at the Budokan was the host nation's Olympic judo hero and Japanese Olympic Committee President Yasuhiro Yamashita.