Gaku Akazawa

Gaku Akazawa (born June 1990) is a Japanese-born Samoan wrestler. He qualified to represent Samoa at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Early life and wrestling career
Akazawa was born in Tokyo in June 1990. He initially competed in kendo growing up, before beginning wrestling in sixth grade. He won national championships both in junior high school and at Hanasaki Tokuharu Senior High School. He attended Nihon University, but suffered multiple injuries while competing there, requiring surgeries on both shoulders which ended his hopes of qualifying for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

After Akazawa graduated from Nihon University, he spent several years training in Russia, but missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Still pursuing his childhood dream of making the Olympics, he thought that changing nationalities would give him a better chance of making it for the next Olympics. He recalled that one of his junior high school teachers had taught judo in Samoa, and got in contact with him.

Akazawa moved to Samoa in June 2017 and continued training; United World Wrestling noted that he became one of "about 10 wrestlers over the age of 14 in the entire country," as rugby is the most popular sport. He opened a gym there, where he teaches the sport. He tried to make the 2020 Summer Olympics but was unable to gain Samoan citizenship in time. Akazawa obtained Samoan citizenship in December 2023. He competed at the 2024 African & Oceania Wrestling Olympic Qualification Tournament and won over his opponent from Guinea-Bissau to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Personal life
Akawaza married a woman he met in Samoa, Sinavalley, in 2018. He also runs a locally popular massage parlor.