Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki is close to sumo's top rank, held by only 75 men in history

Ukrainian sumo wrestler Aonishiki Arata is close to becoming the first European yokozuna, or grand champion. Only 75 men have reached this top rank in sumo's history. He grew up in central Ukraine and trained in judo and freestyle wrestling.

In February 2022, he was preparing to start university. Then Russia invaded Ukraine, so he escaped to Germany with his parents. He contacted Arata Yamanaka, a Japanese sumo captain he had met in 2019. Yamanaka's family agreed to let him stay with them in Japan. He could not speak Japanese when he arrived, but he began training hard.

In Japan, he moved up very fast. He started his professional career in July 2023 and needed only nine tournaments to reach sumo's top level. That was as fast as anyone has climbed through all six levels since 1958. Last year he became an ozeki, the sport's second-highest rank, in record time, then won two grand tournaments in a row. A victory at the spring tournament in Osaka could move him up to yokozuna.

Aonishiki speaks carefully about the war, but he talks to his parents every day. Friends and his former coach in Ukraine watch many of his matches and write to him after wins. "It really makes me want to push harder," he said. Tournaments now sell out quickly, and last year's event at London's Royal Albert Hall was the first sumo tour of Britain in 34 years. "I want more people around the world to take an interest in sumo," he said.