NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A Nashville teenager who captured attention last year as one of the world's best junior sumo wrestlers has added another impressive achievement to his resume.
Gabe Tolentino, now 17, recently returned from Thailand where he won a bronze medal at the World Sumo Championship in the junior heavyweight division. The Nashville native competed as part of Team USA in the international competition.
"I was winning a world championship," Tolentino said, still carrying his medal in his pocket during a recent interview.
The young athlete first gained recognition last year when he was featured as one of Nashville's rising sumo wrestling talents. At that time, he was relatively new to the sport but already showing exceptional promise.
"America is getting a lot more recognition as well," Tolentino said.
His bronze medal performance at the World Sumo Championship represents a significant milestone for both Tolentino and American sumo wrestling on the international stage.
Looking ahead, Tolentino is preparing for his next challenge. He will compete in Las Vegas, but this time he'll be moving up to the adult division.
" I'll be competing in the adults then and it'll be a little rough because it'll be my first year in adults," Tolentino said.
Despite the upcoming challenges, Tolentino remains grounded about his success and credits his support system.
"This ain't just Gabe Tolentino, you know? This was a team effort," Tolentino said.
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This is a story I immediately went home and showed my boys - young athletes with big dreams. The Vanderbilt football team's success has stolen the spotlight - what I love about Steve Layman's story is he reveals the individual hardships it took to get there. As Clark Lea says, "we all have scuff marks." This team proves perseverance pays off!
- Carrie Sharp
