Mitsuo Tsukahara

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Olympic medal record
Men's Artistic Gymnastics
Gold 1968 Mexico City Team competition
Gold 1972 Munich Team competition
Gold 1972 Munich High bar
Gold 1976 Montreal Team competition
Gold 1976 Montreal High bar
Silver 1976 Montreal Vault
Bronze 1972 Munich Rings
Bronze 1976 Montreal All-around
Bronze 1976 Montreal Parallel bars

Mitsuo Tsukahara (塚原 光男 Tsukahara Mitsuo, born December 22, 1947) is a Japanese gymnast and Olympic Gold Medalist. Tsukahara is well known for having invented a Vaulting technique called the "Tsukahara vault". It has been in constant use ever since, with the current Olympic vault champions Monica Rosu and Gervasio Deferr both having used Tsukahara entry vaults. He has also invented a technique called the "Moon Somersault" (or "Moon Salto") in the High Bar.

Winning 5 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal, and 3 Bronze Medals, Tsukahara was an important factor in the Japanese Men's Gymnastics Team winning the team competition in 3 consecutive olympic games--1968, 1972, and 1976. (Overall, Japan has won the team competition in 5 consecutive olympic games--1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1976).

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