Yokozuna

Born Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan in Hawaii and raised in the rural side of the Koolau mountains from Honolulu, Akebono became Japan’s 64th yokozuna in 1993.

Within six years he would become Japan's 64th yokozuna - or grand champion - an honour which the sumo council had previously ruled was off-limits to non-Japanese athletes.

When he became Japan’s 64th yokozuna, or grand champion sumo wrestler, in 1993, he was the first foreign-born wrestler to achieve the sport’s highest title in its 300-year modern history.

Akebono, who was 6-foot-8 and 466 pounds when he was first named yokozuna at 23, towered over his Japanese opponents.

He was the first foreign-born wrestler to reach the level of “yokozuna” — or grand champion — in Japan.