Nonoka Ozaki, in the top position, will fight Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu in the women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling on Tuesday in Paris.
16:28 JST, August 7, 2024
PARIS — Nonoka Ozaki won a bronze medal in the women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling event at the Paris Olympic Games on Tuesday.
“I have to wait until the Games in four years to be a gold medalist, but I’m happy from the bottom of my heart to bring this medal home,” said Ozaki, who was just 21 and making her Olympic debut in Paris.
Ozaki beamed with joy on stage, having overcome her loss the previous day.
When she was a little girl, she watched competitions on TV with Kyoko Hamaguchi, who won bronze medals at the 2004 Athens Games and the 2008 Beijing Games. When she was 7, Ozaki wanted to try the sport herself.
She trained at a gym her parents found and gradually improved her skills.
When her wish to win a gold model in Paris was thwarted, Ozaki’s father encouraged her over the phone.
“Nonoka, you always bounced back, even from the worst situations, didn’t you?” I would have told her.
Ozaki was grateful for the support of her family and friends and revived her courage for the second day of the final rounds.
“It was really a great stage. I’m excited and imagine the next Games in Los Angeles will be even more amazing,” Ozaki said.
She already has her sights set on the next Olympic Games.
