Takemoto, Masao

Masao Takemoto ( 竹 本 正 男 Takemoto Masao , September 29, 1919 - February 2, 2007) is a Japanese gymnast, Olympic champion and world champion.

Masao Takemoto
personal information
Citizenship	Japan
Floor	male
Original name	竹 本 正 男
Date of Birth	September 29, 1919 ( 1919-09-29 )
Place of Birth
Date of death	February 2, 2007 ( 2007-02-02 ) (87 years)
Place of death
Awards and medals

Masao Takemoto was born in 1919 in the city of Hamada , Shimane Prefecture ; graduated from the Japan University of Physical Education .

Since 1947, Masao Takemoto five times became the champion of Japan in the all-around. At the Helsinki Olympics in 1952, he won the silver medal in vault. In 1954, Masao Takemoto won gold, silver and bronze medals at the World Championships in Rome. At the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, he won silver and three bronze medals. At the 1958 World Cup, he won a gold, two silver and one bronze medals. At the end of his sports career, Masao Takemoto, 41, won the gold and silver medals at the Rome Olympics in 1960.

At the end of his active performances, Masao Takemoto became the coach of the Japanese men's gymnastics team. In 1997 he was included in the .