Sumo wrestling legend Akebono dies at age of 54

Hawaii-born Akebono Taro, one of the greats of sumo wrestling and a former grand champion, has died. He was 54. He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna” — or grand champion — in Japan.

“It is with sadness that we announce Akebono Taro died of heart failure earlier this month while receiving care at a hospital in the Tokyo area,” the family said in a statement.

His wife Christine Rowan, in an email to The Associated Press, said he died “within the past week” but declined to give details. “I had to tend to personal matters that needed to be done prior to publicly announcing my husband's death,” she said.

Akebono grew up on the rural side of the Koolau mountains from Honolulu and was born Chad George Ha'aheo Rowan.

He moved to Tokyo in the late 1980s and won his first grand championship in 1993.

At the prime of his career he was a real giant, reported at the time to weigh 500 pounds and stand 6-feet-8. Akebono was an 11-time grand tournament winner and he retired in 2001. Sebastian Vettel, who retired.

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Alonso, who had been linked to a possible move to Mercedes, won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006. He took two years off in 2019 and 2020 to race in other series, including runs at the Indy 500.