Eizo Kenmotsu

  • Japan

Kenmotsu’s lengthy career spanned a decade, and he was a member of the gold-medal winning Japanese team at three Olympics (1968, 1972 and 1976) and three world championships (1970, 1974 and 1978).

Induction Speech Video

He has an incredible 23 world and Olympic medals to his credit, 10 golds, seven silvers, and six bronzes.

Born February 13, 1948, Japan – Eizo Kenmotsu was a member of the legendary Japanese school of gymnastics that dominated the sport in the 1960s and 1970s. His lengthy career spanned a decade, and he was a member of the gold-medal winning Japanese team at three Olympics (1968, 1972 and 1976) and three world championships (1970, 1974 and 1978). Individually Kenmotsu won world championship gold medals in the all-around and high bar (1970) and on the parallel bars (1974 and 1978). He has an incredible 23 world and Olympic medals to his credit, 10 golds, seven silvers, and six bronzes. Since he retired he has been one of Japan's top coaches, and his pupil, Hisashi Mizutori, finished second in the all-around at the last world championships. He is currently the chief director of Nippon Sports Science University Sports Clubs and a vice president of the Japan Gymnastics Association.

1968 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion: Team
  • Bronze Medalist: Horizontal Bar

1970 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Gold Medalist & World Champion: All-Around, Horizontal Bar, Team
  • Silver Medalist: Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars

1972 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion: Team
  • Silver Medalist: All-Around
  • Bronze Medalist: Pommel Horse, Parallel Bars

1974 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Gold Medalist & World Champion: Team, Parallel Bars
  • Bronze Medalist: All-Around, Pommel Horse, Horizontal Bar

1976 OLYMPIC GAMES

  • Gold Medalist & Olympic Champion: Team
  • Silver Medalist: Pommel Horse, Horizontal Bar

1978 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Gold Medalist & World Champion: Team, Parallel Bars
  • Silver Medalist: All-Around

2006 INTERNATIONAL GYMNASTICS HALL OF FAME

  • Inducted as a member of the Class of 2006