Heart failure

He made sporting history: sumo icon Akebono dead

Over two meters tall, weighing 230 kilograms: Akebono was the first sumo wrestling grandmaster who was not born in Japan. Now he has died of heart failure at the age of 54.

Born Chadwick Haheo Rowan in Hawaii in 1969, he rose to become one of the most successful sumo wrestlers in the 1990s. In 1993, he became the first foreigner to be named the 64th yokozuna in history, the highest rank in sumo wrestling.

Three years later, he was granted Japanese citizenship. Akebono ended his active career in 2001.

Wrestling career
He then turned to wrestling. "His fights and his personality captivated many fans," announced the wrestling association All Japan Pro-Wrestling in an initial statement on the death of the popular athlete. He competed in his last wrestling match on April 11, 2017, after which he had to end his career due to health problems.

"Deeply saddened"
"I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Akebono, a giant in the world of sumo," said Japan's US Ambassador Rahm Emanuel. Akebono had built "a bridge between the United States and Japan" and "opened the door for other foreign wrestlers".

Akebono is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons.