Overview

• Obara died on July 18 at age 44, and funeral arrangements remain pending as the wrestling community mourns.
• She won the women’s 48kg gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics and secured eight world championship titles over her career.
• After entering the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2022, Obara focused on mentoring young athletes across Japan.
• She was slated to serve as a coach for Japan’s women’s wrestling team at the 2028 Los Angeles Games before her sudden passing.
• Fellow champion Saori Yoshida paid tribute on social media, calling Obara both a rival and a treasured training partner.