Risako Kawai had just won a gold medal at the 2016 Olympics, and her coach just wanted a hug. But what Kawai did was pretty much the exact opposite of a warm embrace.
The Japanese wrestler captured gold in the women’s 63 kg freestyle Thursday by defeating Maria Mamashuk of Belarus. But when Kawai’s coach, Kazuhito Sakae, ran onto the mat to give her a congratulatory hug, she reacted as anyone would: by tossing him to the floor multiple times.
Maybe Sakae trained Kawai a bit too well.
Of course, the bizarre celebration all was in good spirits, as Kawai then hoisted her coach onto her shoulders and paraded him around the arena while he held up the Japanese flag.
Apparently this kind of celebration is common practice in wrestling, too — Cuba’s Mijain Lopez did the same thing to his coach earlier in the week, albeit with a bit less flair than Kawai.
Let this serve as a warning for all wrestling coaches out there: If your athlete is really good, be prepared to get tossed like a rag doll.
Thumbnail photo via Jeff Swinger/USA TODAY Sports Images
