Saori Yoshida: Three Olympic Golds and 13 World Titles
Saori Yoshida: Three Olympic Golds and 13 World Titles
A 13-time world champion and three-time Olympic gold medallist who defined women’s wrestling. Here is the career of Saori Yoshida.
Saori Yoshida is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and a national icon in Japan. She won three Olympic gold medals (2004, 2008, 2012) and a remarkable 13 World Championship titles, dominating women’s freestyle for over a decade before taking silver at Rio 2016.
1. Three Olympic golds
A golden run.
Yoshida won Olympic gold at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012, the spearhead of Japan’s women’s wrestling team.1
2. Thirteen world titles
Unmatched at the worlds.
Beyond the Olympics, she was a 13-time World champion — one of the most decorated records in the sport’s history.1
3. Rio 2016
A rare defeat.
Chasing a fourth straight Olympic gold at Rio 2016, Yoshida took silver, beaten in the final by the USA’s Helen Maroulis.1
4. Why she matters
The face of women’s wrestling.
Yoshida, with Kaori Icho, defined Japan’s wrestling dynasty and inspired the champions who followed.
Frequently asked questions
How many Olympic golds did Saori Yoshida win?
Three — in 2004, 2008 and 2012; she took silver in 2016.
How many world titles did she win?
Thirteen World Championship titles.
Who beat her at Rio 2016?
Helen Maroulis of the USA, in the final.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
📅 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
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