Yui Susaki: “Three Months After Paris Olympics Defeat, I Still Love Wrestling”

A girls’ night out with Abe Uta

Yui Susaki, who won a bronze medal in women’s wrestling in the 50kg category at the Paris Olympics in August, faced an unexpected defeat in the first match. It was a loss to a foreign opponent, something she had never experienced before in her wrestling career. This was a devastating blow, especially since the Paris Olympics were expected to be her second consecutive victory after Tokyo, and she herself had been focused solely on the goal of a four-time Olympic gold medal.

Despite the shock of not winning the gold medal, Susaki took solace in her third-place finish, acknowledging that although it did not shine as brightly as gold, an Olympic medal of any kind is still worthy of praise. However, she admitted to having complex feelings about the situation.

“I’m really happy to be congratulated. Of course, the shock of not winning the gold was huge. Paris wasn’t just my Olympics. There were many people who came to support me, including my family and friends. I wanted to make them happy, and that’s why I wanted to win the third-place match and return with a smile,” Susaki shared.

There was a full day between her first match and the third-place match. During this time, she needed to adjust her weight, so she spent the time running. This break allowed her to focus on the upcoming match, and despite the mental struggle, she was determined to treat it as a stepping stone for the next Olympics, hoping the bronze medal would connect to her future.

“It’s absolutely something that will contribute to my future,” she said.

Athletes rarely talk about their goals for the next Olympics immediately after finishing the current one, as the four-year gap is long and the competition only gets tougher with age. But Susaki is already looking ahead, not just to the next Olympics in four years but to the 2028 Brisbane Olympics.

“After this result, I want to become stronger to win the gold medal in four years and eight years. In Tokyo, I felt like I was in heaven, and in Paris, it felt like hell. These extreme experiences will make me stronger. Four years is certainly a long time, and I will have to experience the same struggles again, but I won’t get discouraged. I love wrestling, and I’m happy that I can wrestle while staying healthy.”

After returning to Japan from France, Susaki spent a short break at her parents’ home in Chiba. She didn’t go to any hot springs or actively hang out with friends. For Susaki, who has been constantly busy with training and overseas training camps, doing nothing was the best way to refresh herself. However, she did have a chance to have a meal with Uta Abe, the 24-year-old judo athlete who also faced an unexpected defeat despite being expected to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

While their sports are different, they both share the experience of falling short of the gold medal despite high expectations, and this common experience brought them closer. They spent time talking about wrestling, the Olympics, and their private lives.

“It was a fun time talking about various things, and I got a lot of inspiration. We both felt motivated to keep going. I believe that one day we’ll be able to say that our current success is thanks to the bronze medal.”

That single defeat will make Susaki stronger. Her long wrestling career has likely just reached the halfway point.

Unpublished cut from this magazine: Yui Susaki, “Three months after the unexpected defeat,” “I still love wrestling.”