In a surprising announcement early Sunday, Kokonoe stalwart Chiyotairyu announced that he is retiring from competition, effective immediately. His day 8 opponent, Kagayaki, will get the default win.
Chiyotairyu’s performance had been fading for the past year, with 5 make-koshi out of the past 6 tournaments. His rank had stayed in the Maegashira 10 to 15 range since November of 2019. To this sumo fan, it was clear that a good portion of his characteristic cannon-ball tachiai was not to be seen again, and that he was nursing some chronic injury.
At one time ranked as high as Komusubi, he made his top division debut in 2012 after starting sumo as a Makushita 15 tsukidashi.
I just hope that it’s ONLY his accumulated injuries and not some scandal that comes out later…
So shocking to see a professional athlete retire in the middle of a competition. It’s like Tom Brady retiring from the NFL at the end of the 3rd quarter of a regular season game.
at the end of the basho it wouldn’t have come as a complete shock, but mid-basho like this is he pre-empting something? we’re all going to guess like crazy at this point. that said, i’ll miss our denshamichi cannonball whom my hubby instantly recognises as Elvis-Sumo…. thanks for all the entertaining on and off the dohyo Chiyotairyu. your salmon roe eating skills (Suskino in Sapporo during Jungyo a few years back) will go down as the stuff of legend too! wish you well with your proposed restaurant in Tokyo. otsukaresama deshita….
“To this sumo fan, it was clear that a good portion of his characteristic cannon-ball tachiai was not to be seen again, and that he was nursing some chronic injury.”
TBH I think it’s just a skill set that was never designed to age well and nearly 60 top division tournaments is an incredible achievement but it’s always going to wear down someone with his physicality and sumo style faster than, for example, an Okinoumi or Aminishiki who could go on well into their late 30s. Physically I don’t know that many of us at 35 had the same physical abilities as at 25, you have to work smarter, but his game has more or less been unchanged for the past decade.
I will try to put together a post-basho eulogy once I’m caught up, I think he’s a fascinating figure in a lot of regards.
Wow, I’ve always like Sumo Elvis! Reading other thoughts I do hope we don’t hear anything scandalous come out later on. Ichinojo’s scandal already has me reeling.
“Curiouser and curiouser” said Alice.
Elvis has left the building. :(
This puts me in mind of recent mid-basho retirees. Kisenosato came up first and then Kotoshogiku. Both were sporting serious injuries. Any others come to mind?