Here are some photos of the US Sumo Team at the 2008 Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.

Finally Practicing Together - I live in Los Angeles, Trent moved to Arizona, Kelly is in Idaho, and Kena lives on a tropical island.  This was the first time we all got to train together, and it was an intense one.  We were joined by Petros of Greece, who added some speed to our workout. 

Team Shirts - We were fitted with US Sumo Team shirts that were provided by our sponsor Eric the Trainer: Fight.  Here, we goof around at the welcome dinner while looking like an organized team.  Thanks again, Eric.

US Embassy Officials - During the tournament, we were asked to pose for photos with some special guests, officials from the US Embassy in Estonia.  We were glad that we had some American fans in the audience, and they were happy to see us do so well.  

The After After Party - After the after party, we were invited to an after after party.  These are the only photos I’m allowed to show.

Next year, the Sumo World Championships will be in Egypt.  The US Sumo Team will be ready.

Here are some photos of me competing at the 2008 Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.

SumoDan vs. Yannick Rossi of Switzerland - Yannick was new to sumo, but a pro at drinking.  We hung out at the welcome party, at dinner the night before the tournament, and at the after after party.  I hope he continues with sumo.

SumoDan vs. Alex Davitashvili of Georgia - This guy beat Kelly in the Heavyweight division, and I wanted to avenge his loss.  I did.

SumoDan vs. Dezso Libor of Hungary - At 220 kg (484 lbs), Libor was one of the heaviest in the tournament.  Libor has taken silver and bronze at previous Sumo World Championships, and it was an honor to fight him. 

SumoDan vs. Alan Karaev of Russia - Everyone was shocked when this two time World Champion lost his semi-final match to Joroslav Poriz of the Czech Repuplic.  Now, I had to face him to get the bronze medal.  It was USA vs. Russia, Rocky vs. Ivan Drago.  We had a good tachiai, but neither of us budged.  Then he quickly dragged me forward and the match was over.

This was my second time representing the US at the Sumo World Championships.  I made a few mistakes, but I am still improving (making it into the medal rounds).  I lost the bronze, but I guess fifth in the world isn’t too bad for now. 

Here are some photos of Kelly Gneiting, US Heavyweight Champion at the 2008 Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.

Kelly vs. Alex Davitashvili of Georgia

Kelly vs. Marc Haldi of Switzerland

Kelly vs. Daniel Ivanov of Bulgaria

Kelly vs. his hormones

Here are some photos of Kena Heffernan, US Middleweight Champion at the 2008 Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.

Opening Ceremony - Kena came out of retirement and was asked to carry the US flag during the opening ceremony.  With this honor comes standing at attention for an hour while sumo officials make speeches.  Sorry Kena.

Kena vs. Victor Pastrello of Brazil

Kena vs. Vincent Heiniger of Switzerland 

Kena vs. Avtandil Tsertsvadze of Georgia

As you can clearly see from the last photo, the Georgian touched the ground before Kena stepped out.  Unfortunately, Kena was still given the loss.  No matter what the result, this was definitely the most exciting match of the day.  Good job Kena.

Here are some photos of Trent Sabo, US Lightweight Champion at the 2008 Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.

Trent vs. Takashi Shimako of Japan

Trent vs. Mohamed El Said of Egypt

Awards Ceremony - (L to R) Stiliyan Georgiev, Takashi Shimako, Trent Sabo, Nachyn Mongush 

Congratulations to Trent for his bronze medal win.

The Sumo World Championships were held in Rakvere, Estonia, which is the birthplace of pro sumo wrestler Baruto.  The tournament was held in the newly built Rakvere Sports Center, but the main attractions in Rakvere are the 12th century castle and the Tarvas statue (which was wrapped in a mawashi to welcome us sumo wrestlers). 

The castle and Tarvas at night.  Notice the castle is flying the Japanese flag in honor of the tournament.

We also got to see another world capital city, Tallinn, Estonia.  Our Estonian guides took us to the Old Town area which tries to preserve Tallinn as it was before the Russian takeover.  It was beautiful, with unique architecture and narrow cobblestone streets.

This Russian church was rediculously ornate, inside and out.      

  The best meal we ate in Estonia was in this German style Beer House.

Troy, Trent and I flew into Helsinki, Finland before the Sumo World Championships.  We walked around on their brick and cobblestone streets for two days.  By the second day, Trent’s calves were as big as mine.  It could have been all the fish-bread he was eating.

  Trent points to the only black man in Helsinki.

More brick and cobblestone.                     

Some statues.                        

  Helsinki or Gotham City?

2008 Sumo World Championships Results - October 12th, 2008

Women’s Lightweight

1. Nelli Vorobyeva (RUS)
2. Paola Boz (ITA)
3. Satomi Taira (JPN),  Alina Boykova (UKR)

Women’s Middleweight

1. Maryna Pryshchepa (UKR)
2. Epp Mae (EST)
3. Nicole Hehemann (GER),  Marina Dvoretskaya (RUS)

Women’s Heavyweight

1. Olga Davydko (UKR)
2. Olesya Kovalenko (RUS)
3. Edyta Witkowska (POL),  Chiu-Jung Cheng (TPE)

Women’s Openweight

1. Anna Zhigalova (RUS)
2. Francoise, Harteveld (NED)
3. Svitlana Iaryomka (UKR),  Sylwia Krzemien (POL)

Women’s Team

1. Russia
2. Ukraine
3. Poland,  Japan

Men’s Lightweight

1. Takashi Shimako (JPN)
2. Stiliyan Georgiev (BUL)
3. Trent Sabo (USA),  Nachyn Mongush (RUS)

Men’s Middleweight

1. Katsuo Yoshida (JPN)
2. Konstiantyn Yermakov (UKR)
3. Atsamaz Kaziev (RUS),  Victor Pastrello (BRA)

Men’s Heavyweights

1. Takashi Himeno (JPN)
2. Petar Stoyanov (BUL)
3. Byambajav Ulambayar (MGL),  Vasily Margiev (RUS)

Men’s Openweights

1. Naranbat Gankhuyag (MGL)
2. Jaroslav Poriz (CZE)
3. Alan Karaev (RUS),  Robert Paczkow (POL)

Men’s Team

1. Russia
2. Japan
3. Mongolia,  Poland

Trent Sabo won a bronze medal this weekend at the Sumo World Championships in Rakvere, Estonia.  This was the first individual medal won for the USA since Wayne Vierra won the bronze in 1997.

Trent beat Sami Yla-Kero of Finland in the first round, only to face last year’s bronze medalist, Nachyn Mongush of Russia in the next round.  Trent outwrestled the Russian in a great technical match.  He was then handed his only loss by eventual Champion Takashi Shimako of Japan.  Trent faced Egypt’s Mohamed El Said for the bronze.  Trent recovered from the hard tachiai, but El Said couldn’t and fell to the ground.

Me and the rest of the American Sumo Team are proud of Trent and are honored to have shared this victory with him.  With Trent as inspiration, we hope to earn more medals for the USA next year.

More Sumo World Championship results coming soon…