Judo was introduced during the Tokyo Olympics as a tribute to the host nation. Despite the general expectation that Japan would dominate the competion, the gold medal in the prestigious open class event went to a foreigner. A hulking Dutchman, 6"6 Anton Geesnik took Japanese fans and the world by surprise when he defeated local favorite Akio Kaminaga. After the Olympics, the Japanese embraced their one-time rival as their own hero. Geesink became a popular sports figure in the country.

The life of Australian swimmer Dawn Fraser, two time 100 meter freestyle Olympic champion, was suddenly struck by tragedy in March of 1964 as the car she was driving skid out of control her mother was killed and she chipped a vertebra. Despite spending six weeks in a cast she was ready to swim in the Olympics by October. Only seven months after her tragic accident, Fraser became the only person ever to win an individual swimming event in three consecutive games.