Keio Student and 68kg Wrestling Representative Nonoka Ozaki Explores the Profound Impact of the Olympics

Yui Susaki (25), who is aiming for her second consecutive victory following the Tokyo Olympics, and Akari Fujinami (20), the second “strongest woman in the primates” who holds a 133-match winning streak, are both prominent figures. Alongside them, a female wrestler who is considered a strong candidate for a gold medal at the Paris Olympics is Nonoka Ozaki (21), an active Keio University student competing in the 68 kg weight class.

 

“The Olympics are a life-changing opportunity. I absolutely don’t want to miss out on the gold medal.” 

She overcame setbacks and difficulties to secure her place in Paris. Originally the world champion in the 62 kg weight class, she faced consecutive losses at the All Japan Championships in late 2022 and the All Japan Selection Championships in June 2023, leading to her elimination from the representative competition. Consequently, she moved up to the 65 kg weight class, which is not included in the Olympics, and competed in the World Championships.

“Losing the chance for the Olympics made me lose my will to live. Wrestling became boring, and life wasn’t enjoyable. However, when I moved to the 65 kg class and aimed for the World Championships, my mother told me, ‘Even if it’s a weight class not included in the Olympics, becoming a world champion is something to be proud of.’ Realizing that ‘the Olympics aren’t everything’ helped me stay positive.”

After reclaiming the World Championship title, she shifted to the 68 kg weight class. She won the playoff in January to secure her spot for Paris. While weight management is often a challenge in wrestling, she faced the opposite issue of gaining weight.

“I was a wrestler who hardly needed to cut weight in the 62 kg class. Trying to gain weight with that body didn’t happen overnight. In the playoff to determine the representative, I was still far from 68 kg. I had to patiently eat and train hard, and finally reached around 69 kg.”

Moving up two weight classes increases the power of opponents and could potentially diminish her trademark speed. The way she competes might change significantly.

“Actually, my speed might have improved. With the added muscle in my legs and hips, I feel that my tackles have become more powerful. My core strength has also increased, which I believe has strengthened my defense.”

While attending Keio University’s Faculty of Environmental Information, she appeared for the interview with her hair tied back, without hiding her ears, which are flattened like dumplings from the friction of competition.

“It’s not something to be embarrassed about. When I go abroad, people sometimes say it looks cool. It’s a sign of my hard work, and I don’t think there’s any need to be ashamed of having a wrestler’s body.”

The Olympics are scheduled for August 5 and 6.

 

“I know what I need to do. I want to push my body to its limits in training, study my opponents by watching videos, and spend intense time preparing. My goal is to become a woman with the kind of influence that motivates others. To achieve that, I want to compete in the Olympics multiple times and end my wrestling career with a gold medal.”

 

In front of the statue of Keio University founder Yukichi Fukuzawa, she vowed resolutely to win the gold medal.

From the July 26/August 2, 2024 issue of FRIDAY