WORLD CHAMPION – SUMO GRAND CHAMPION

Fiamalu Penitani, known as sumotori Musashimaru, was encouraged by success in Greco-Roman wrestling in high school and began his competitive career as a sumotori in 1989 and became a professional in 1991. He quickly moved up the ranks by earning a majority of wins for 52 consecutive tournaments, and in 1999 became only the second foreign-born yokozuna (grand champion) and the 67th sumotori to attain the rank of yokozuna in the history of the ancient Japanese sport.

Until his retirement in October 2004, Musashimaru won a total of twelve top division championships (Emperor’s Cups) and over 700 competitive bouts, a feat achieved by only four other sumotori.