Kaori Icho: The First Wrestler With Four Olympic Golds
Kaori Icho: The First Wrestler With Four Olympic Golds
Four consecutive Olympic titles — a feat no wrestler has matched. Here is the career of Kaori Icho.
Kaori Icho is the most successful Olympic wrestler in history. She won gold at four consecutive Olympic Games — Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 — becoming the first wrestler, man or woman, to win four Olympic golds, and the first woman to win individual gold at four straight Games in any sport.
1. Four straight golds
A run no wrestler has matched.
Icho won Olympic gold in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016, sealing the last with a takedown in the final seconds of the Rio final.1
2. A historic record
First in the sport.
She is the first wrestler in history to win four Olympic gold medals, and the first woman to take individual gold at four consecutive Olympics in any sport.1
3. Years of dominance
A near-unbeatable career.
For more than a decade Icho was almost untouchable in women’s freestyle, riding long unbeaten streaks between titles.1
4. Why she matters
The greatest of all.
Icho is the centrepiece of Japan’s wrestling dynasty, alongside Saori Yoshida — the foundation of the country’s Olympic strength.
Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic golds did Kaori Icho win?
Four — in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
What makes her record unique?
She was the first wrestler ever to win four Olympic golds, and the first woman to win individual gold at four straight Games in any sport.
What weight did she compete at?
Women’s freestyle, in the lighter divisions (58–63kg over her career).
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- First wrestler (man or woman) to win four Olympic golds (2004/2008/2012/2016); first woman with individual gold at four straight Games. ESPN; Olympics.com.
A profile dated 21 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月22日 | 初回公開 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
SportsPulse 編集部が公開情報をもとに内容を確認しています。情報は確認時点のものです。最新情報は各公式サイトをご確認ください。