Gaku Akazawa (born June 1990) is a Japanese-born Samoan wrestler. He qualified to represent Samoa at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Born | June 1990 (age 34) Tokyo, Japan |
| Alma mater | Nihon University |
| Sport | |
| Country |  Samoa |
| Sport | Wrestling |
| Weight class | 65 kg |
| Event | Freestyle |
Early life and wrestling career
editAkazawa was born in Tokyo in June 1990.[1] He initially competed in kendo growing up, before beginning wrestling in sixth grade.[2] He won national championships both in junior high school and at Hanasaki Tokuharu Senior High School.[2] He attended Nihon University, but suffered multiple injuries while competing there, requiring surgeries on both shoulders which ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2]
After Akazawa graduated from Nihon University, he spent several years training in Russia, but missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[2][3] Still pursuing his childhood dream of making the Olympics, he thought that changing nationalities would give him a better chance of making it for the next Olympics.[2] He recalled that one of his junior high school teachers had taught judo in Samoa, and got in contact with him.[3]
Akazawa moved to Samoa in June 2017 and continued training; United World Wrestling noted that he became one of "about 10 wrestlers over the age of 14 in the entire country," as rugby is the most popular sport.[3][4] He opened a gym there, where he teaches the sport.[2] He tried to make the 2020 Summer Olympics but was unable to gain Samoan citizenship in time.[4] Akazawa obtained Samoan citizenship in December 2023.[2] He competed at the 2024 African & Oceania Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament and won over his opponent from Guinea-Bissau to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.[5]
Personal life
editAkawaza married a woman he met in Samoa, Sinavalley, in 2018.[2] He also runs a locally popular massage parlor.[2]
References
edit- ^ "赤澤岳（サモア＝日大OB）が3試合を勝ち抜き、オリンピック出場枠獲得…アフリカ＆オセアニア予選" [Gaku Akazawa (Samoa, Nihon University alumnus) wins three matches and secures an Olympic spot in the Africa & Oceania Qualifiers]. Japan-Wrestling.jp (in Japanese). 25 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Ueda, Atsushi (11 May 2024). "Japan-born Wrestler's Olympic Dream Comes True as Samoan; Ex-Pat Gaku Akazawa Qualifies for Paris". The Japan News.
- ^ a b c "サモア国籍で目指す東京五輪 レスリングの赤澤岳" [Samoan wrestler Gaku Akazawa aims for the Tokyo Olympics]. 47 News (in Japanese). 14 March 2020.
- ^ a b Higuchi, Ikuo (21 November 2022). "Former Japan high school star aims to put Samoa on wrestling map". United World Wrestling.
- ^ Manaui Faulalo, Sulamanaia (13 June 2024). "Akazawa is Samoa's wrestling hope". Samoa Observer.