Who are the greatest sumo wrestlers of all-time?
By Jayson Panganiban November 20, 2024 09:50
A lot of Rikishi try to thrive but just cannot maintain the proper diet and lifestyle it takes to have a long sumo wrestling career. However, some have been big exceptions to this and have practically lived their lives within a routine that keeps them competitive. Despite having to compete against many Yokozunas, here are the ones who have stood out the most and stamped their names across history.
Hakuho Sho
In a sport that's dominated by people who have Japanese ancestry, the greatest Rikishi hails from Mongolia. He started out to become a professional sumo wrestler back in 2001 but was a well-known amateur before this. It took him a while to rise through the ranks but he eventually became a Yokozuna in 2007. Since then, he has not let go nor dishonored the title.
Hakusho Sho is the only distinct Rikishi who has managed to stay in the sport for two decades. Think of him as the LeBron James of sumo wrestling before he retired in 2021.
Taiho Koki
An athlete's backstory often tells the masses a lot about they reached the pinnacle of the sport while defying a lot of odds. Taiho Koki won about 32 championships throughout his 15-year career. However, his path of being one of the best Rikishi was tougher than most. It was because his family were victims and even displaced due to the second world war. Eventually, he found solace in the sport.
Koki became a Yakazuno in the latter days of being 21 years old. He never let go of the sport because of how much it helped him and his family move on from very tough times after the war.
Kitanoumi Toshimitsu
If there was a wunderkind in the world of sumo wrestling, it would be Kitanoumi Toshimitsu. He became a Yokozuna at just about 21 years old which makes him the youngest to have ever notched the feat. He had an 18-year career before hanging it all up and retiring. However, there were still ways for him to give back to the sport that he loved.
For instance, he became the Japanese Sumo Association president. Toshimitsu ensured that the sport was safe while also retaining its culture and tradition over time. He unfortunately passed away in 2015.
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