Helen maroulis

Kochi Wrestling Club: 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.