Olympic Champ Higuchi Eyes Rare Back-to-Back Gold at LA 2028

Rei Higuchi stepped back onto the wrestling mat in Tokyo this weekend with a dream that only one Japanese freestyle wrestler has ever achieved.

The 28-year-old Paris Olympic champion won the 61kg division at the Meiji Cup All-Japan Invitational Championships in his first competition since claiming gold 21 months ago. But in a surprise move, he immediately withdrew from the playoff that would have sent him to the 2026 World Championships.

His reason? Total focus on Los Angeles 2028.

"I'm only focused on winning back-to-back titles in Los Angeles," Higuchi told reporters after his victory. "Strategically, I've made the decision to prioritize getting my body in shape over the next six months."

Higuchi will drop back down to his Olympic weight class of 57kg for the qualification tournament in December. Rather than risk injury or burnout at the World Championships, he's playing the long game.

The wrestler admitted his legs felt heavy in his first match after such a long break. By his semifinal bout, though, his rhythm returned. He tried new takedowns and felt the joy of competition flooding back.

"It was so much fun," Higuchi said. "I feel like I can pull off all sorts of new moves and do so much more."

Why This Inspires

Only one Japanese freestyle wrestler in history has won back-to-back Olympic golds. Higuchi wants to become the second, cementing his legacy as the greatest ever in Japanese wrestling.

"I want to become the kind of figure where people say, 'Rei Higuchi was the strongest in Japanese wrestling history,'" he explained. His goal isn't just another medal. It's about breaking records set by legendary predecessors.

What makes his journey special is the honest vulnerability he brings to elite athletics. He talked openly about heavy legs, moments of doubt, and the pressure of being an Olympic champion. Yet he's learned to let go of that pressure by remembering that his gold medal is already won, regardless of what happens next.

That mindset freedom is what allowed him to truly enjoy his return to competition. Now he's eager to get back to training, build his body properly for 57kg, and refine techniques that could carry him to history.

The Los Angeles qualification tournament is seven months away. If Higuchi succeeds, the world will watch in 2028 as he attempts to join wrestling's most exclusive club.