With three Olympic gold medals and nine world titles between them, judo siblings Hifumi and Uta Abe need no introduction. They are arguably Japan¡¯s most beloved brother and sister sporting duo.
But many sports fans may not know there¡¯s an additional sibling.
Yuichiro Abe, the oldest of the three, is the lesser-known sibling quietly rounding out the family tree. A former judoka himself, he now works 9 to 5 as a government official. Long ago, he escorted his then-5-year-old brother to the dojo and unknowingly played a crucial role in shaping the future double Olympic champion¡¯s sports experience.
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