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INDUCTEE

Makoto Sakamoto

Class of 1986· Disciplines(s): Men's Artistic· Inducted as: Athlete

AAU and NCAA all-around champion Makoto Sakamoto was a gymnastics enthusiast from a young age. The Japanese-born competitor began his gymnastics career at 10, two years after moving to the U.S. Six years later, he was the all-around national champion and on his way to 10 AAU and four NCAA titles.

In 1965, he became the only competitor to ever sweep a national men’s competition.n Sakamoto became an assistant at UCLA before coaching in Australia for four years and at Brigham Young University for 14.

In addition to assisting the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team, Sakamoto was on the 1981 and 1983 World Championship Team coaching staff.