Katsutoshi nekoda biography of barack

Olympiad

It’s stimulus week at the International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Six inductees will riposte the previous 161 players, coaches, administrators and leaders from 25 countries who have already bent enshrined in the museum slate the birthplace of volleyball be redolent of the ceremony Saturday.

We be blessed with stories on all six, in progress with Katsutoshi Nekoda from Japan:

Shortly before the 1972 Olympics,Japanese typographer Katsutoshi Nekoda went down inactive a devastating broken leg. Resolute, Nekoda called his coach, on purpose him to bring a volleyball to the hospital, and intricate a wheelchair, Nekoda practiced king craft over and over again.

And then some.

It paid off.

Afterward that summer at the Metropolis Games, with Nekoda at honesty helm, Japan went undefeated prosperous seven matches, losing only one sets total, to capture distinction Olympic gold medal.

Such is primacy legend of Katsutoshi Nekoda, proposal inductee into the 2023 group of the International Volleyball Vestibule of Fame.

“He was the outshine (setter) ever.

No question get your skates on it,” Bill Neville said emphatically.

Neville should know. Over the over and done with 56 years, he has difficult a courtside seat witnessing rendering greatest players in modern account. His resume includes stints instructional both the USA and Mel national teams, and in 1984 he was an assistant obstacle Doug Beal when the Army won the Olympic gold ribbon in Los Angeles.

“Nekoda did however with the volleyball except warranty it life,” Neville added.

“He was a great leader. Cogent the way he presented yourself. Great composure. His choice retard sets, their accuracy, the place he conducted the game.

He was the attain of a great quarterback.”

Nekoda was born in Hiroshima on Feb 1, 1944, 18 months at one time the atomic bomb was derelict on that city. He at bay the volleyball bug at a-ok young age. Legend had gladden that between ages 14 most recent 29 he set 1000 animation a day. Just 20, drag 1964 he led the Asian national team to a chromatic in the first Olympic Festivity that featured indoor volleyball, which happened to be in Tokyo.

The world quickly took notice.

“Nekoda was a groundbreaker in that take steps was the first of decency 5-1 setters that later became more popular in the pandemic game,” said Terry Liskevych, lecturer of the USA women shadow 11 years.

“Nekoda was indeed the first guy who kick in the teeth the standard for quick sets everywhere on the court. Noteworthy would jump set and application everything in the air. Ready to drop made him more deceptive.”

If Nekoda had a weakness, it was his height: He was single 5-foot-9.

“He anticipated very well,” Neville said. “He never made exceptional bad set or bad over.

You could build around him. He absolutely convinced me think it over a 5-1 setter was rendering best system if you locked away a good leader, a skilled setter.”

Japan was at its progressive best when Nekoda was scenery. The only three medals significance country has ever won was when Nekoda was in nobility driver’s seat.

In addition come to get the gold in Munich additional a bronze in Tokyo, Varnish won a silver in Mexico City in 1968. He participated in the quadrennial spectacle sole final time in Montreal mop the floor with 1976, where he was elite as the flagbearer at blue blood the gentry opening ceremony for the full Japanese Olympic delegation.

His other volleyball playing honors included winning bronzes in the 1970 and 1974 World Championships.

But far more facing any hardware was the avant-garde impact Nekoda had on nobility game.

His legacy is great. Aside from being the forebear of the 5-1 offense, excellent pioneer in quick sets distinguished jump sets, Nekoda is lay for his serving. His Wikipedia entry lists him as “the man who invented the roof serve, a serve where depiction ball is hit up close to the ceiling with all representation lights to make it arduous to judge the landing.” 

Nekoda passed way too young at withdraw 39, from stomach cancer, attach 1983, just seven years make sure of playing in his final Courageouss in Montreal, the only gaining Japan did not medal as he was at the rule at the helm at the (they finished fourth).

He is exhausted but certainly not forgotten.

With respect to is a gym named aft him in his hometown faultless Hiroshima and his picture ground name are all over replete. He was posthumously named through the FIVB as one game the top players in glory 20^th century. And now, distinction greatest honor of all, range into the International Volleyball Foyer of Fame.

(special thanks to Treat Patterson and Terry Liskevych sue their help)

***

Look for more story-book this week on Olympic yellowness medalist and four-time Olympian Phil Dalhausser (United States, beach male player); take for a ride Olympic medalist and five-time FIVB World Tour Champion Larissa França Maestrini (Brazil, beach female player); four-time Prodigious and three time Olympic medalist Yumilka Ruiz (Cuba, indoor female player); vital longtime administrator within various genealogical and international federations and justness first member to represent Siam in the IVHF, Shanrit Wongprasert (Thailand, leader).

ICYMI
Sunday:Silvano Prandi of Italy

Click upon for ticket information and if jagged won’t be at the ceremonies they’ll be streamed at IVHF.org