Japan competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. Japanese athletes have competed at every Summer Olympic Games in the modern era since 1912 except for two editions; it was not invited to the 1948 Summer Olympics in London for its role in World War II, and was also part of the US-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The Japanese Olympic Committee sent a total of 306 athletes, 139 men and 167 women, to compete in 27 sports. For the first time in its Olympic history, Japan was represented by more female than male athletes.
Japan left Athens with a total of 37 medals (16 gold, 9 silver, and 12 bronze), finishing fifth in the overall medal rankings.[2] This was also the nation's most successful Olympics, winning the largest number of gold and overall medals in non-boycotting games and surpassing three gold medals short of the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Ten of these medals were awarded to the athletes in judo, eight in swimming, six in wrestling, four in gymnastics, and two each in athletics and synchronized swimming. Eight Japanese athletes won more than a single Olympic medal in Athens. Japan's team-based athletes came strong and successful in Athens, as the baseball and softball teams managed to produce two bronze medals.
Among the nation's medalists were freestyle wrestlers Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho, who both claimed their gold medals in women's wrestling for the first time, and judoka Tadahiro Nomura and Ryoko Tani, who both successfully defended Olympic titles in their respective classes. Swimmer Kosuke Kitajima became the most successful Japanese athlete in these games, striking a breaststroke double with two golds and adding a bronze to his career hardware for the team in men's medley relay.[3] Meanwhile, synchronized swimmers Miya Tachibana and Miho Takeda managed to repeat their silver medals from Sydney in both women's duet and team routines. Takehiro Kashima, Hiroyuki Tomita, and Isao Yoneda claimed two individual medals each in men's artistic gymnastics, including their coveted gold in the team all-around.
On August 29, 2004, the International Olympic Committee stripped off Hungary's Adrián Annus hammer throw title after failing the doping test, and the gold medal was subsequently awarded to Koji Murofushi at the conclusion of the Games, making him the nation's first ever Olympic champion in the field event.[4]
^"Hamaguchi leads in Japan". The Japan Times. 15 August 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
^Holmes, Tracey (24 August 2004). "Big bag of surprises at Athens". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
^"Japan's Kitajima wins men's 200m breaststroke for 2nd gold". People's Daily. Xinhua. 19 August 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
^"IOC strips Annus of hammer gold". CNN. 29 August 2004. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
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