Anto Clarke competed in the men’s lightweight judo at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games as one of Ireland’s five pioneering judoka – the first time Ireland had ever entered the sport at the Olympics, finishing 13th.

A native of Ballyfermot, Dublin, and one of the most technically competent practitioners of the sport at the time, Clarke had been introduced to judo at the Dublin Judo Club in Parkgate Street in 1960, gaining his black belt (1st Dan) in 1963.

He moved to London in 1966 and joined the Renshuden Judo Academy where he studied under the famous Japanese coach Kisaburo Watanabe, winning bronze at the 1968 British Open Championship and outright victory at the London Championships.

In Munich, he ‘knocked lumps’ out of his Russian opponent – in the words of teammate Paddy Murphy – but the judges’ verdict favoured the Soviet representative.

Clarke was a dual practitioner of martial arts, also developing a karate career from 1962 onwards, and competed in World and European judo championships before Munich. After retiring, he made a significant contribution to coaching Irish judo.