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Olympic Champ Tsugumi Sakurai Retires at 24 to Coach & Inspire

Japanese wrestler Tsugumi Sakurai, the reigning Olympic champion in the women's 57kg category, has announced her retirement at just 24 years old. Her decision follows a decorated career that included three consecutive world titles and a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Sakurai expressed gratitude for her supporters and stated she fulfilled her Olympic dream. She will now transition to coaching at the Kochi Wrestling Club and serving as a sports ambassador for her home prefecture.

Key Points: Olympic Wrestling Champ Tsugumi Sakurai Retires at 24

  • Retires at age 24
  • Won Paris 2024 Olympic gold at 57kg
  • Three-time world champion
  • Will coach at Kochi Wrestling Club
  • Suffered only two career losses
2 min read

Paris Olympics women's 57kg wrestling champion Tsugumi Sakurai retires at 24

Japan's Paris 2024 gold medalist Tsugumi Sakurai retires from wrestling at 24 to become a coach and sports ambassador in Kochi.

"I was able to fulfil my dream of winning gold in the Olympics. - Tsugumi Sakurai"

New Delhi, April 5

Paris Olympic women's 57kg champion wrestler Tsugumi Sakurai of Japan has decided to retire at the tender age of 24 to begin a second career nurturing a new generation of wrestlers and serving as a goodwill ambassador of sports for her native Kochi Prefecture in western Japan.

Sakurai triumph in Paris came after winning three consecutive world titles, at 55kg in 2021 and back-to-back golds at 57kg in 2022 and 2023.

"Thank you for your continued support. I have decided to separate my career in wrestling for almost 21 years and retire. So far I have been able to break into wrestling in a blessed environment with the support of so many people.

And I was able to fulfil my dream of winning gold in the Olympics. Thanks to all of you for your support. Thank you," Sakurai posted on Instagram.

"Thank you very much for your continued guidance and support, even when the results were hard to produce. I've had a lot of experiences through wrestling. Looking back, there have been a lot of pain, but I am glad I continued wrestling.

"This is a decision I made after talking, worrying, and thinking about it with so many people over the past year. From now on, I want to start a classroom in Kochi Wrestling Club, Konan City, and do my best to spread and strengthen wrestling," the post read.

A U17 world champion in 2016, she won golds at the Asian Championships and Asian Games in 2022 and 2023, respectively, but suffered the second of just two career international losses at the 2024 Asian Championships, where she fell to Yongxian Feng of China in the final, as per United World Wrestling.

She bounced back five months later for her crowning achievement in Paris, where she defeated 2016 Rio Olympic champion Helen MAROULIS (USA) 10-4 in the semifinals, then took the gold with a 6-0 victory over Anastasia NICHITA (MDA) in a rematch of the 2023 world final.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Only 24! She has achieved what most athletes dream of in a lifetime. This shows the intense pressure and physical toll of combat sports. Respect for her choice. Hope Indian wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and others also get to plan their careers on their own terms.
A
Arjun K
Her record is phenomenal. Three world titles and an Olympic gold. To bow out on such a high note takes real courage. Her focus now on coaching in her local prefecture is commendable. Grassroots development is key for any sport's future.
S
Sarah B
While I admire her achievements, retiring so young feels like a loss for the sport. She could have dominated for another Olympic cycle. The wrestling world needs its stars to stay active longer to inspire more young girls to take up the sport.
K
Karthik V
The part about her two career losses is telling. She lost to a Chinese wrestler and then came back to win Olympic gold. That's the mindset of a champion. Jai Hind! Hope our athletes learn from this resilience.
M
Meera T
Starting a classroom in the Kochi Wrestling Club is a wonderful initiative. This is how you build a lasting legacy, not just with medals but by creating a system that produces more champions. Japan's sports culture is something we should study.

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