Nationality: Japan
Inducted: 2025
Notable Record(s):
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Most Olympic Women’s Freestyle Wrestling Lightweight Gold Medals
- Most UWW World Wrestling Championships won (Women's Freestyle)
- Most UWW wrestling world titles won (female)
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Most UWW wrestling world titles won by an individual
An ICON because...
Saori Yoshida began wrestling at the age of three from her father, who was operating his own gym. By the age of 16, she was already taking the world stage, winning world junior championships.
In recognition of Saori’s stellar career on the mat, which saw her become the most decorated female freestyle wrestler of all time – a position she now uses to coach the wrestling stars of the future, champion her lifelong sport and to support philanthropical causes in Japan.
Yoshida's turning point was during her junior high school years, where she set herself a goal to become the world's best. Her achievement comes not from instantenous effort, but decades of dedication and hard work.
