Sakamoto, Makoto
Gymnastics
b. April 8, 1947, Tokyo, Japan
Sakamoto's family came to the U. S. in 1955 and he began gymnastics two years later. An extremely versatile gymnast, Sakamoto won the national all-around championship from 1963 through 1966 and in 1968 and 1972. He was the horizontal bars champion in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968; the still rings champion in 1965 and 1966; the horizontal bar champion in 1965, 1966, 1967, and 1968; the floor exercise champion in 1965 and 1967; the pommel horse champion in 1965 and 1966; and the vault champion in 1965 and 1968.
In 1965, Sakamoto became one of the few gymnasts ever to win the national title in every event. He also won the NCAA Division I all-around, parallel bars, and horizontal bar championships in 1968.
He retired from competition in 1972 and began a career in coaching. Among his students was 1984 Olympic pommel horse champion Peter Vidmar.