2020 Olympic champion and Japan’s youngest-ever male world champion has a habit of catching opponents off guard. It’s his speed that surprises opponents on the mat. This time, however, the 26-year-old wrestler caught the entire wrestling community off guard.

Less than a day ago, Takuto Otoguro, announced he was retiring to his 53 thousand followers on Instagram. The Japanese wrestler was fully aware that few expected him to drop such a bombshell, and so that’s the first thing he addressed. “Some may be surprised by this sudden announcement, but I have decided to retire as a wrestler,” Otoguro said in his post.

The reaction was immediate. Everyone from fellow Japanese champions such as Masanosuke Ono to the regular fan commented on his post. Ono was so shocked, that he couldn’t even muster anything more than a crying emoticon. Meanwhile, others lamented how the sport lost such a talented champion at such a young age. “Legend! Wrestling will miss you,” one fan wrote.

The 65 kg (143 lbs) Olympic champion reminisced about his career. As he looked back on the memories and the achievements, Otoguro also thanked everyone who stood by him because, in the Japanese icon’s own words: “I think I was a crazy, and difficult wrestler to deal with.” he wrote.

Yet, the former Japan national champion has grown distant from the sport. “I have no regrets because I was able to play the wrestling I love until I started to hate it,” revealed the 26-year-old. One of the reasons Takuto Otoguro thinks this way could be becoming obsessed with the craft. Unfortunately, the wrestler didn’t elaborate. Yet, regardless of the deeper reasons, the community couldn’t help but express their respect for the champion.

The wrestling community gave Takuto Otoguro his flowers

Takuto Otoguro’s sudden retirement incited a response from the global wrestling community. Besides Japanese wrestlers like Ono, freestyle wrestlers from across the world wrote heartfelt tributes for the retiring champion. One of the more standout tributes came from none other than Paris 2024 silver medalist Spencer Lee.

“Met him in 2014 cadet worlds. Stayed friends all the way til now. Congrats on retirement, champ,” the Iowa Hawkeyes icon wrote while sharing Otoguro’s Instagram post. Yet, that wasn’t the only message he wrote. Lee took to X to add to his tribute and gave the wrestling champion the ultimate respect. “Literally one of my heroes even though we are the same age,” wrote Lee.

“If you haven’t watched him wrestle, do yourself a favor and go watch him. Unreal speed and talent,” explained Lee. The Hawkeye even revealed something few in the community had any inkling about. “He also whooped up on me last month, visiting Iowa City. Love this guy,” the Olympian revealed. Lee was one of many, as Serbian wrestler Stevan Mićić commented too.

The 57 kg Serbian icon, the first wrestler from his nation to win gold at the World Championships, also had nothing but respect for Takuto Otoguro. “Such an amazing wrestler and a legend to the sport!! Best of luck in your next chapter of life,” commented the former world champion. Mićić’s presence in the comment section showed just how influential Otoguro was.

The Japanese legend earned Mićić’s respect despite belonging to a different nation and weight class. And why wouldn’t the community show their respect? Washington State wrestler David Darroch called the Asian Championships gold medalist a pioneer. “What we’re now calling the Ono snap, Haji and Takuto pioneered. Happy to see him getting well-deserved flowers from the community now,” the young wrestler wrote.

Finally, some hoped that despite his present relationship with the sport, the champion would at least pass the baton to a new generation. “Olympic Champion. You finished the game, it’s your choice to move on! Now train an Olympic champion! Whatever you do, have fun. I wish you success in all aspects of life!” a fan requested the freestyle wrestling legend. So, how did you react to the news? Tell us in the comments.