Mikio Oda

A representative Japanese track and field athlete. Born in Hiroshima, he graduated from Waseda University. During his time at the university, he built the golden age of the Waseda track and field club together with Chuhei Nanbu and Yoshio Okita. In 1924 (Taisho 13), he jumped 7.04 meters in the long jump, the first in Japan to record a 7-meter mark. That same year, he placed 6th in the triple jump at the Paris Olympics, and in 1928 (Showa 3), he won the triple jump at the Amsterdam Olympics with a jump of 15.21 meters, becoming the first Japanese to win an Olympic gold medal. In 1931, he set a new world record of 15.58 meters, becoming a pioneer in Japan's triple jump kingdom. He was also strong in throwing and short distances, outside of his specialty, and held the Japanese decathlon record (6062 points) for three years from 1924. After retiring as head of the Asahi Shimbun sports department, he served as a professor at Waseda University and a member of the IAAF technical committee. He served as chairman of the track and field athlete training committee at the Tokyo Olympics. Honorary Chairman of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations. In 1988, he was awarded the Person of Cultural Merit.

[Tsuneo Ishii]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本の代表的陸上競技選手。広島に生まれ、早稲田(わせだ)大学卒業。在学時代、南部忠平、沖田芳夫(よしお)らとともに早大陸上競技部の黄金時代を築いた。1924年（大正13）走幅跳びで7.04メートルを跳び、日本初の7メートル台を記録した。同年のオリンピック・パリ大会三段跳びで6位入賞、28年（昭和3）のオリンピック・アムステルダム大会三段跳びで15.21メートルで日本人として初めてオリンピックの金メダルを得た。31年には15.58メートルの当時世界新記録をつくり、三段跳び王国日本の先駆者となった。専門外の投擲(とうてき)、短距離にも強く、24年から3年間十種競技の日本記録（6062点）を保持。朝日新聞本社運動部長退任後、早稲田大学教授、国際陸連技術委員を歴任。東京オリンピックでは陸上競技の選手強化委員長を務めた。日本陸上競技連盟名誉会長。88年文化功労者。

［石井恒男］

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