The 23-year-old athlete from Kagawa Prefecture, known for its udon speciality, defeated Kazakhstan's Demeu Zhadrayev in the final match at the Champ-de-Mars Arena. "I genuinely believe udon is a superfood," Kusaka told reporters after his victory.
Kusaka's triumph marks Japan's second Greco-Roman wrestling gold in Paris, following Kenichiro Fumita's win in the 60-kg division a day earlier. This achievement ends Japan's 40-year drought in Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling.
Despite a challenging start to the final bout, Kusaka remained confident. "The match didn't begin as I had anticipated, but I maintained faith in my abilities and extensive training," he explained.
The newly crowned champion, known for his jovial demeanor, quipped about his post-victory status: "Winning an Olympic medal has transformed me into a superhero. I'm awaiting a call from The Avengers."
Kusaka, named after 2000 Sydney Olympics marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, sees his victory as a fulfillment of his namesake's legacy. "It's no coincidence that I've followed in the footsteps of another champion," he remarked.
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