Kosaku Sumiyoshi

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameKosaku•Sumiyoshi (-Iwasaki)
Used nameKosaku•Sumiyoshi
Original name住吉•耕作
Other names岩崎耕作
Born1 October 1907 in Etazima, Hiroshima (JPN)
Died1971 in ?, Puttalam (SRI)
Measurements174 cm / 68 kg
AffiliationsWaseda University, Tokyo (JPN)
NOC Japan

Biography

Kosaku Sumiyoshi enrolled in Waseda University in 1926, one year after his first appearance at the Far Eastern Games. He first excelled at an international level when he won the javelin throw at the 1927 Far Eastern Games in Shanghai, exceeding the previous record by more than five metres. Two more gold medals were to follow at the 1930 Far Eastern Games, again with the javelin and in the pentathlon. However, a throw close to his mark from Shanghai only earned him 13th place at the 1928 Olympics. His 1928 trip to Europe gave him the opportunity to participate in the Summer Student World Championships in Paris. He won the event with a new games record, almost four metres better than his best throw at the Olympics. He was again not at his best at the Los Angeles Olympics, finishing eighth.

Sumiyoshi recorded his personal best in 1930 in Wien (Vienna) with 66.42, earning him seventh place in the world ranking list. In the following year he ranked eighth in the world with a season’s best of 66.03. He was listed for the last time in the world ranking in 1933, placing 12th with 65.58, achieved in São Paulo. At home, he won four Japanese Championships (1928-29, 1931-32). In 1936 at Berlin Sumiyoshi acted as manager of the Japanese athletic team. After his marriage, he changed his name to Iwasaki.

Personal Best: JT – 66.42 (1930).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1928 Summer Olympics Athletics JPN Kosaku Sumiyoshi
Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) 13 r1/2
1932 Summer Olympics Athletics JPN Kosaku Sumiyoshi
Javelin Throw, Men (Olympic) 8