Yayoi Urano Odagaki
Height: 169 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Education
1987-1991 Nippon Sport Science University (major: Judo)
Wrestling Teams
1990-1997 Japan Womens National Team
1988-1991 Nippon Sport Science University Club (Japan)
1991-1997 Kyotaru (Japan)
1997-1999 Bears Wrestling Club (Canada)
Major Accomplishments
1990 World Champion (75 kg)
1991 World Champion (70 kg)
1992 World Silver Medallist (70 kg)
1993 World Champion (70 kg)
1994 World Champion (65 kg)
1995 World Champion (65 kg)
1996 World Champion (65 kg)
1997 World 4th Place (68 kg)
1996 Asian Champion (65 kg)
Nine-Time All Japan National Champion (1988, 1990-1997)
All Japan National Silver Medallist (1989)
1990 1st place - Sunkist Cup individual and team
1991 1st place - Chinese Taipei International Tournament (70 kg)
1992 1st place - Moscow International Tournament (70 kg)
1993 1st place - German International Tournament (65 kg)
1995 1st place - German International Tournament (65 kg)
1997 1st place - Clansmen International Tournament (63 kg)
1998 1st place - Clansmen International Tournament (63 kg)
At the Olympic debut of women’s wrestling in 2004, many wrestling
aficionados marveled at the competitive intensity and technical virtuosity
of the Japanese quartet that took home two gold medals, a silver and a
bronze. While the Japanese performance might have surprised some,
many others know the foundation of that success had been laid more
than a decade earlier with the triumphs of Japan’s first generation
of female wrestlers. Most notable among these pioneers was
Yayoi Urano. Yayoi won an unprecedented six world
championship titles between 1990 and 1996 as well as a silver
medal in 1992. She also reigned over Japanese
wrestling with nine national crowns, including eight in a row from 1990.
Further, she was also a gold medalist at the inaugural Asian championships
for women in 1996. Yayoi began as a promising young judoka at
Nippon Sports Sciences University and switched to wrestling in the
late 1980s. She adapted quickly, but throughout her career remained
a true student of the sport, working endlessly to improve upon her
championship form. At the beginning of 1997, Yayoi’s employer
Kyotaru disbanded its wrestling team after the food retailer
declared bankruptcy. Yayoi took that
opportunity to spend some time studying in Canada. At the same time,
however, she missed out on the medals for the first time at a world
championships with a fourth-place finish. The following year,
Yayoi was forced to undergo surgery for a troublesome
knee injury. Nevertheless, she rebounded in November of 1998 with a
championship performance at the Clansmen International in Canada in her
final international competition.
