Tatsuya Saito survives Kodokan Cup and keeps Olympic dream alive
Drenched in sweat after a grueling bronze medal match at the Chiba-gin Arena, 24-year-old heavyweight judoka Tatsuya Saito admitted that defeat would have been unthinkable as he fought to keep his 2028 Los Angeles Olympic ambitions breathing. The result keeps the Jes Elevator judoka on the radar for the upcoming Tokyo Grand Slam in December, preserving a narrow path toward qualification for the Los Angeles Games.
Two years of surgeries and a demanding selection race
The road back to competitive judo has tested Saito’s resilience following a heavy physical toll since the Paris Olympics. After competing in France, Saito underwent neck surgery in October 2024, returned to competition in August 2025 to win the Kodokan Cup, and then required another operation on his lower back that triggered a lengthy absence from the tatami. He returned to competition in September at the All-Japan Corporate Individual Championships, treating the Kodokan Cup as only his second tournament back.
Coach Suzuki weighs Tokyo Grand Slam selections
With the Tokyo Grand Slam selecting four athletes per weight class, Saito sat squarely on the bubble heading into the tournament. National coach Ryutaro Suzuki noted after the matches that with three athletes leading the division, the focus centers on identifying who claims the fourth spot. Saito acknowledged that the immense pressure to secure an immediate result altered his approach on the mat, noting that the fear of losing caused him to fight with a constricted style before ultimately salvaging his tournament standing in the third-place playoff.
Legacy in Los Angeles and the road ahead
The stakes carry additional personal weight for Saito, whose late father Hitoshi Saito captured Olympic gold in 1984 at the venue hosting the upcoming Los Angeles Games. Reflecting on the heavy expectations surrounding his career, Saito emphasized that winning gold in Los Angeles represents the ultimate culmination of his life’s ambition and a chance to erase the bitter disappointment of Paris. The official announcement regarding the Tokyo Grand Slam roster is scheduled for Dec. 9, setting up an immediate battle where Saito must continue defeating rivals such as Nakano and Ota to secure his standing on the global stage.
