Akari Fujinami, the reigning Olympic wrestling champion at 53kg, has announced a significant career shift. Next year, she will move to the 57kg weight class.
This decision is already reshaping expectations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The young phenom turned 21 on November 11, fresh off her first Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games. Her dominance in the 53kg category has been unmatched, with a staggering 139-match winning streak that began in 2017 when she was still in junior high school.
However, Fujinami says changing weight classes is about preserving her strength and performance. Cutting down to 53kg, she admits, has taken a toll.
“I felt I lost muscle during the process,” she said, reflecting on the challenges.
Her natural weight is around 61kg, which makes competing at 53 kilograms a constant battle against her body. Moving up to 57kg allows her to compete closer to her natural form.
She believes this shift will bring out her best on the mat.
Fujinami competed at 59kg during the recent East Japan Collegiate Women’s League. Although this weight class is higher than her planned 57kg, she excelled. She won both matches by fall, demonstrating her adaptability and skill.
One of her opponents, Ichika Arai, is a world U20 silver medalist at 57kg. Even against Arai, Fujinami’s speed and technique proved too much. Wrestling closer to her natural weight plays to her strengths.
The move to 57kg also carries historical significance. No female wrestler has ever won consecutive Olympic gold medals after moving to a higher-weight class. Fujinami now aims to become the first.
She understands the difficulty of this goal but welcomes the challenge.
“It will be difficult, but that’s what makes it challenging,” she said with determination.
Her next competitive appearance at 57kg is still undecided. She has ruled out competing at the Emperor’s Cup All-Japan Championships in December.
Instead, she plans to debut at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships next spring.
The Meiji Cup is essential as it qualifies for the 2025 World Championships. It will likely mark her official transition to the 57kg weight class. Until then, she continues to train and adjust to her new competitive weight.
Her move brings her closer to a potential showdown with Tsugumi Sakurai, the reigning Olympic champion at 57kg. The two have faced each other before.
Last year, Fujinami defeated Sakurai 5-0 at the East Japan Collegiate tournament.
This brewing rivalry adds excitement to Fujinami’s transition. Wrestling fans are eager to see how she fares against Sakurai in a full-fledged match at 57kg. Their clash could define the weight class leading up to the 2028 Olympics.
In addition to her ambitions, Fujinami draws inspiration from wrestling legends. Male athletes like Aleksandr Medved and Abdulrashid Sadulaev have successfully increased weight classes to win multiple Olympic golds.
Now, she hopes to carve out her place in history.
Japanese female wrestling icons like Saori Yoshida and Kaori Icho have also transitioned weight. However, their shifts were to lighter classes, not heavier ones.
The recent East Japan Collegiate Women’s League showed what lies ahead. Competing at 59kg, Fujinami showed she could handle more vigorous, heavier opponents. Her technical brilliance and mental toughness set her apart.
However, her Nippon Sport Science University team finished second overall in the tournament. Ikuei University secured first place with critical wins from Moe Kiyooka and Ami Ishii.
Ikuei wrestlers recently claimed gold at the Non-Olympic Weight Category World Championships.
Despite the team’s result, Fujinami’s performance remained stellar. Her dominance at a higher weight reassured fans and solidified her decision to move up.
Fujinami has clarified that she won’t dramatically alter her style for the heavier class. She plans to maintain her focus on speed and precision.
“I will still try to keep the opponent from getting at my legs,” she explained.
Yet, the additional four kilograms of muscle will bring new considerations. How Fujinami builds and manages her weight will influence her performance. She remains confident that she can make the necessary adjustments.
Her journey to 57kg is more than a personal milestone—it’s a defining moment in women’s wrestling. The prospect of breaking new ground as a two-time Olympic gold medalist in different weight classes drives her.
It’s a challenge no woman has conquered before, but Fujinami believes she can.
The wrestling community will watch closely as she takes this bold step. Her upcoming debut at 57kg will be a pivotal test. How she fares will set the tone for her quest toward Olympic history.
Fujinami’s decision to move up reflects her physical needs and unrelenting ambition. She embraces the challenges ahead with the same tenacity that made her a champion at 53kg. Now, she looks to do it all again—at 57kg.
As the countdown to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics begins, Fujinami’s journey promises to be one of the sport’s most compelling stories.