Ozeki (Champion): Konishiki Yasokichi

Ozeki is the second highest rank in the sport of sumo wrestling. Sumo, a more than 2,000-year-old sport and art form with religious origin, is considered Japan’s national sport. Konishiki Yasokichi, a native of Hawaii, was the first ever foreign-born sumo wrestler to attain Ozeki in 1987. Salevaa Atisinoe was born in Nanakuli, Hawaii on December 31, 1963. Eighteen years later, already weighing 385 lbs., he was spotted by sumo talent scout and offered the chance to go to Japan to train. He happily accepted the offer to escape the poverty in the family. In 1982, he was recruited by another Hawaiian-born wrestler, Takamiyama of the Takasago Stable. Due to his potential, he was given the name Konishiki, after the 17^th Yokozuna (Grand Champion), Konishiki who came from the same training stable. Konishiki rose ranks in just eight tournaments. He made his debut in the top makuuchi division in 1984, and in the following tournament he defeated two Yokozuna. He suffered a few injuries and setbacks in the early part of 1986. But he progressed very strongly and became the first foreigner ever to achieve the rank of Ozeki or Champion. For 10 more years he competed and amassed 730 wins and three more championships. At one point he weighed 633 lbs. and was the heaviest wrestler ever in sumo. Sumo wrestlers eat three or four times that of an average man daily. Konishiki never earned the highest rank of Yokuzuna, but he was the real trail blazer and paved the way for the Hawaiian wrestlers Musashimaru and Akebono to achieve Yokozuna. After becoming a naturalized Japanese citizen, he still lives in Japan where he released his 10^th music album recently. Go, Champ!