SUSAKI SHARES OLYMPIC GOLD KNOWLEDGE

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang

Olympic Gold and Bronze medalist Yui Susaki made her way to Guam yesterday to conduct a three day wrestling clinic at the Father Duenas Phoenix Center for the first two days and International Sports Center for the final.

Susaki’s takedown camp opened to various age groups and split into two sessions for 5-12 year olds getting the mat with her first followed by the more advanced teen and adult group.

Susaki won the gold medal in the women’s 50 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics without conceding a single point to any opponent. In the 2024 Summer Olympics, she was defeated by Vinesh Phogat, her first ever loss in any international bout, eventually taking the bronze.

After the youth division completed their turn, nine year old Naia Duenas shared how ecstatic she was to have just met an Olympic champion for the first time. Duenas was especially keen that her first meeting with one was with a girl that wrestles. “She’s really nice to me when she’s coaching and I just feel good,” she exclaims. “It’s really cool that she’s a girl…it makes me feel comfortable.”

Arriving earlier than most with enthusiasm for the adult clinic to begin, teen wrestlers Ava Ulloa and Cadence Horton found themselves just wanting to see an international athlete in action.

“It’s very eye-opening to learn from a young Olympian,” Horton says about 26-year-old Susaki, who obtained her Olympic gold at the age of 22. “I’m ready to absorb everything she’ll teach us, whether it’s just technique or mentality.”

Ulloa admits that although she is newer to the sport of wrestling, she finds herself amazed by Susaki and finds that the clinic is pushing her to keep improving overall, especially as a girl in such a physical field. “Wrestling is a male-dominated sport and to be able to learn from a young woman like her is really nice and a good opportunity. So, I made sure to take it,” Ulloa expresses.

FOURTH TIME TO GUAM

As for Susaki’s trip to Guam, this is not her first time here. In fact, she is now on her fourth trip to Guam and is thankful to Pacific Grappling Events president Jayronne Gandaoli for inviting her to host the clinic and she was excited to start with coaching the little kids.

With Guam’s wrestling community still growing as most locals only start looking into the sport in their teens, Susaki noticed that the youth group had a different kind of athletic background. “Jiu jitsu [athletes] are not wrestlers, [so] it is a bit difficult to explain the different wrestling techniques,” Susaki laughs endearingly as something that stood out was how when she would try to get them to go for their opponent’s knees or toes, they would instead attack as if they were trying to grip their opponent’s gi. 

“Still, that is good for my experience too.” Susaki is glad to be part of their journey and says that she is learning from them too, even wanting to get better at jiu jitsu with what they show her.

With her excitement to continue over the next couple of days, Susaki shares her thanks to not only those who have invited her but to everyone who showed interest in her takedown camp ending with a simple message to everyone who showed up to the first day and plans on coming in the next sessions that of course she wants to teach how to be strong physically in the sport but she also wants the men and women there to be confident in themselves.

MEET N GREET

If you would like to meet Yui Susaki but were not able to nab a spot in the clinic, a meet-and-greet will be held at Micronesia Mall for the public on Saturday. Pictures and autographs are able to be taken from 10-11:30 am.