Paris Olympics 48kg judo gold medalist Natsumi Tsunoda revealed during a guest appearance on the Bunka Housou program “Otake Makoto Golden Radio!” that a crushing 13-second defeat at her first national tournament during junior high school transformed her approach to the sport.
From Crying Child to National Competitor
According to reports from Sports Nippon Shimbunsha, Tsunoda began judo in the second grade of elementary school at her father’s suggestion. In her early years, competing alongside boys, she struggled to secure victories and frequently cried, earning the childhood nickname “Nakamushi Nacchan” (crybaby Nacchan). She even admitted to hiding in the corner during practice until she fell asleep.
Regional tournament matches in the opening rounds routinely ended in defeat. However, upon entering junior high school and transitioning to separated weight classes and single-gender divisions, Tsunoda began capturing wins, culminating in a prefectural championship and a berth at her first national tournament by the second year.
The 13-Second Shock at Nationals
The euphoria of reaching the national stage quickly evaporated. Facing an opponent utilizing a technique she had not yet encountered, Tsunoda fell in just 13 seconds via an ippon-seoi-nage. That match defeat happened because I hadn’t learned that technique yet. I didn’t even know the technique itself. I only knew techniques executed with two grips,
Tsunoda explained during the broadcast.
Returning to her corner, her junior high school judo coach laughed and apologized, admitting he had not yet taught her how to defend against that specific attack. Rather than demoralizing the young athlete, the instant defeat triggered an intense analytical curiosity.
Igniting an Elite Training Regimen
Rather than retreating from the loss, Tsunoda viewed her technical gap as an opportunity. Because it was a technique I didn’t know, I thought that if I understood it more, I could become stronger. I wanted to do it more, so I asked my parents to help me transfer to a powerhouse school,
she stated. That decision led to three years of intensive judo training, laying the technical foundation for her eventual ascent to the Olympic podium in Paris.
| Career Milestone | Context & Details |
|---|---|
| Age/Sport Entry | Started judo in elementary school second grade |
| First National Loss | Defeated in 13 seconds by an unfamiliar ippon-seoi-nage |
| Olympic Peak | Won gold in the 48kg division at the Paris Olympic Games |
