Acclaimed Japanese Wrestler Tsugumi Sakurai Announces Retirement and Transition to Coaching
Tsugumi Sakurai, a renowned Japanese wrestler, has announced her retirement from competitive wrestling and her transition to a coaching role. This decision comes after a prolonged internal struggle as she could not regain the mental state she had prior to her victory at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Tsugumi Sakurai, an acclaimed Japanese wrestler, has officially declared the end of her competitive career and her shift towards coaching. This significant decision was made after a lengthy period of introspection, during which Sakurai grappled with her inability to return to the mental fortitude that propelled her to victory at the 2024 Olympic Games.
According to reports from News Yahoo Japan, the 24-year-old athlete plans to focus on training young wrestlers by establishing a wrestling club in her hometown of Konan, located in Kochi Prefecture. Sakurai is eager to assist the new generation of athletes in achieving success in the sport of wrestling.
“As an athlete, I am putting a period at this stage. It is difficult to win the Olympics without full determination. I could not return to the mindset I had before the Paris Games. I truly devoted myself to wrestling. Those were the best views and the best moments,” Sakurai stated in her address.
Sakurai gained recognition in the sports world after becoming the world champion in the 55 kg and 57 kg weight categories in 2021. She continued her winning streak by clinching the championship in her weight class at the 2024 Olympic Games, where she won a gold medal in the women's 57 kg category. Interestingly, she secured gold at these competitions alongside her childhood friend, freestyle wrestler Kotaro Kiyoka, who was also coached by her father.
After graduating from Kochi-Minami High School (now Kochi Kokusai), Sakurai enrolled at Ikuei University, where she continued her athletic career. In April of the previous year, she entered graduate school at Kochi University, demonstrating her commitment to education and personal development.
In 2025, Sakurai participated in her final tournament of her career, where she became the champion of the All-Japan Women's Open Championship in the 57 kg category. This marked a significant milestone in her career as she concluded it on a high note.
It is noteworthy that in 2022, the Japanese athlete defeated Ukrainian wrestler Alina Hryshyna in the quarterfinals; however, Hryshyna managed to win additional matches and secured a bronze medal. In 2023, Sakurai triumphed over Angelina Lysak in the quarterfinals, who had started competing under the Polish flag two years prior, despite previously winning bronze at Euro 2020 and silver at the U21 European Championships in 2016.
It is important to recall that Sakurai had previously faced a suspension due to doping violations, which may have also influenced her decision to retire from competitive wrestling. Now, she is focused on her coaching career and the development of young talents in wrestling, hoping to pass on her experience to the next generation of athletes.