When Japan started its ascent as a gymnastics nation at the 1952 Olympics, Takemoto was the nation’s top gymnast, having won five consecutive national all-around titles since 1947. He débuted at the Olympics with a silver in the horse vault. His greatest successes came at the World Championships, winning the floor exercise title in both 1954 and 1958. He missed a medal in the 1956 floor event due to a poor compulsory exercise, but made up for it by winning three individual bronzes and a silver with the Japanese team. In 1960, when Takemoto was already 41, he added a third Olympic silver medal (on the bar) and crowned his career with an Olympic gold in the team all-around. Having completed his education at Nippon Sport Science University, he went on to become the coach of the Japanese men’s gymnastics team. In 1997, he was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Japan