Anthonius Johannes (Anton) Geesink (1934-2010) gained worldwide fame 60 years ago when he became the first non-Japanese to win the World Judo Championship in the heaviest weight division. Many victories and prizes followed, including two more world titles, twenty-one European Championships and a gold medal at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Royal Dutch Mint has therefore minted an official commemorative coin, in commission by the Ministry of Finance: the Anton Geesink 5 Euro Coin.
 
Anton Geesink’s Legacy
Anton Geesink has also left his mark on judo beyond his athletic achievements. He took several initiatives to make the complex rules of judo more understandable. For example, keeping the score has been simplified. Furthermore, he invented he contrasting colours of the opponents. Nowadays, instead of two white uniforms, one wears white and the other blue. This makes the competitions much better to follow for the referee and the audience. After winning his Olympic title, Geesink opened his own gym in Utrecht, where he also gave classes himself. The street where the gym is located was named the “Anton Geesinkstraat”. The judoka has also been monumentalized as a statue in Wijk C, the neighbourhood in Utrecht where Geesink was born. And now the sports icon is being honoured with his own commemorative coin!