Aim for the top of the Paris Olympics! Interview with Wrestling Yukitaro Kiyooka & Tsugumi Sakurai

Yukihiro Kiyooka and Tsugumi Sakurai from Kochi Prefecture will participate in the wrestling of the Paris Olympics, which began on July 26, 2024. Two childhood friends who have been involved in the competition since childhood as a first-year student at the Kochi Wrestling Club. Just before the stage of the dream, we asked the two of them about their enthusiasm.

Profile of Yukihiro Kiyooka

Yukihiro Kiyooka was born in Kochi City on April 12, 2001, 23 years old. Men's freestyle wrestling 65kg class player. At the Paris Olympics and Asian Qualifiers held on April 19, 2024, we won the national decisive match and decided to participate in the first Olympics.

Kiyooka met wrestling when he was in kindergarten. It was the beginning of joining the Kochi Wrestling Club, which was launched by Tsugumi Sakurai's father in 2004. After that, he proceeded to Kochi Minami High School, a leading wrestling school, and Nippon Sport Science Univ., and currently belongs to Mie Kaiun.

Kiyooka has achieved good results in numerous tournaments in elementary, junior high and high schools, as well as in college. In particular, last year he won the international competition held in Bulgaria, the All Japan University Championship, and the All Japan Championship, and this year he won the Paris Olympic and Asian Qualifiers and the international competition held in Hungary. Medal expectations are rising.

Interview with Kiyooka

In July, just before the Paris Olympics, we spoke with Kiyooka.

Q) You won the "Dan Kolov-Nikola Petorov International Convention" held in Bulgaria in 2023, and you have continued to perform well.

“I was very confident that I was able to win the first international competition. I think it was a good experience for the future.”

Q) Is the winning of the international competition triggering a good performance after that?

“I don’t think that’s the biggest factor. By the time I participated in this international tournament, I was able to incorporate new training and challenge various things without fear of failure. I think a lot of things lead to good results.”

Q) I have been using mental coaching since spring this year. Is there any change?

"By incorporating mental coaching, I've always been able to think positively, positively, and positively about myself. In addition, I have been training to make full use of my head, and I feel that my linguistic ability has increased. And in practice, I feel that the growth rate has increased significantly.”

Q) Does that training affect you now, as you are about to get ahead of the Olympics?

"Yes. Even now, there is a lot of fun, such as expectations and excitement for yourself, without feeling tension or pressure."

Q) Please tell us about your private side. I heard that you listen to HIPHOP a lot.

“I love Hiphop very much. I buy records and listen to them at home, or go live on the day off. I originally liked street culture such as skateboarding, breakins and graphics, and I became more and more attracted to the charm."

Q) Why do you like hiphop?

"Because the artist's humanity and words are transmitted more straight than other genres. In addition, the word play unique to rap is also a very attractive point. Recently, a group called XG and a rapper called JJJ are booming in me!” 。

Q) Please tell us about Kochi Prefecture where you were born and raised. What kind of impression does Kiyooka have about Kochi Prefecture?

"Kochi Prefecture is never a big prefecture, but it is just called the Kochi family, and I think everyone is very warm and very homey prefecture. Also, there are many people who love events and festivals. I think there are many people who can be excited about various things. This Olympics also supported the whole prefecture, and many people called out. It’s a driving force for the Olympics.”

Q) As a wrestling player, what do you think about the local community?

"Because the competition population of wrestling is small, I think it is a harsh environment compared to other prefectures. However, Kochi Prefecture has generous support, and since it is a small number of people, you can concentrate and give guidance. I think that’s a good environment.”

Q) Some citizens may not be used to watching wrestling. Please tell me the points and highlights of the game.

"Wrestling is a very difficult competition because there are many detailed rules. However, we do not use tools or kimonos, and we believe that the battle between living humans and humans is an attractive feature that other sports do not have. In addition, fierce battles, such as throwing opponents and turning over, are also the real pleasure of wrestling. I'm a very aggressive style that I'm always attacking. I think it's fun to watch because it's going to happen one after another. Please pay attention!” 。

Thank you very much for the interview while you were busy. Finally, please send a message to the people of the prefecture.

"I started wrestling at the age of four, and after just under 20 years, I was finally able to stand on the stage of my dream. From this experience, I would like you to achieve, achieve, achieve, achieve, and live with goals and dreams because you can do something for everyone. I also want you to believe that these goals and dreams can be realized. Thinking, believing, and speaking attracts success and realization. I would like to receive a gold medal on the Olympic stage and send a message from Kochi Prefecture that I can fulfill my dreams. We look forward to the wrestling competition and the support of Kotaro Kiyooka! " 。

Profile of Tsugumi Sakurai

Tsugumi Sakurai is a 22-year-old born in Konan City on September 3, 2001. She is a female freestyle wrestling 57kg class player.

Sakurai started wrestling when he was in kindergarten, just like Kiyooka. I joined the "Kochi Wrestling Club" launched by my father and learned the basics. After that, he went to Kochi Minami High School, a leading wrestling school, and Ikuei University. I still belong to Ikuei University.

Sakurai has been proud of national strength since his junior era, including winning the National Junior High School Championship for three consecutive victories from 2014 to 2016. When I was in high school, there was a slump, but I overcame it, won the senior international competition in 2020 and won the All Japan Championship. After that, he participated in the World Championships for the third consecutive year and won three times, and was nominated as a representative of the Paris Olympics. Like his childhood friend Kiyooka, Sakurai is a promising player who is expected to have a gold medal!

Interview with Sakurai

This time, I was able to talk to Mr. Sakurai.

Q) Just before the Olympics. Tell us about your impressions of Paris and what you are looking forward to!

"It's my first time in Paris, so I'm looking forward to seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe I saw on TV. The wrestling competition takes place right next to the Eiffel Tower. I want to enjoy France after the game is over.”

Q) Since I was in elementary school, I have been active all over the country and have attracted public attention. How did you deal with this attention?

"I haven't changed myself in particular, but as I got the results, I've got a lot of news coverage. At the same time, the number of people who support us has gradually increased. Thank you very much for your support. I wasn't very good at standing in front of people, but now I want to do my best to help more people get to know wrestling."

Q) Please tell us what you felt at the Asian Championships in April this year.

"In the Asian Championship, I lost in the finals and it was an opportunity to reconsider myself. Now I’m going to practice well for the Olympics, that’s all. At the Olympics, we will enjoy the game and we will do our best to win!” 。

Q) Tell me about your school days. I heard that teachers were also studying at university.

"I got a teacher's license at the university. I also learned the difficulties of teachers there. I don't know if I will become a teacher in the future, but eventually I hope I can be able to communicate to the children what I have experienced."

Q) Does being born and raised in Kochi have any effect on yourself?

"I feel that while wrestling in Kochi, I feel that I have become stronger in various aspects, such as my feelings for wrestling and what I need to be stronger. It was not a blessed environment, but I think that thanks to the various support from the prefecture, the results have been obtained so far."

Thank you very much for the interview while you were busy. Finally, please send a message to the people of the prefecture.

"Thank you for always supporting me. At the Olympics, I will do everything I have learned and have done so far, and do my best to win a gold medal. And we will do our best to be able to play a game that gives courage and energy to those who support us. Thank you very much for your support!" 。

Paris Olympic Wrestling Game Schedule

Finally, I would like to inform you about the Wrestling Competition Day of the Paris Olympics.
The wrestling competition will take place from August 5th to 11th at the Champs de Mars Arena. The following time is Japan time. The schedule is subject to change. Thank you for your understanding.

Yukihiro Kiyooka participated in "Men's Freestyle Wrestling 65kg Class"
The first and second rounds from 18:30 on August 10
Semi-finals August 11 from 1:15
The Battle of Losers: August 11 from 18:00
Third place: August 11, 19:00~
Final: August 11 from 19:25

Tsugumi Sakurai participates in "Women's Freestyle Wrestling 57kg Class"
The first and second rounds from 18:30 on August 8th
Semi-final August 9 from 1:55 p.m.
The Loser Restoration Battle: August 9, 18:00~
Third place: August 10 at 3:50 p.m.
Final from 4:15 on August 10th

Let's support Kiyooka and Sakurai from Japan. We look forward to seeing you both!

In addition, there are many people involved in Kochi Prefecture who participate in the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, so please support us.