Hakuhō Shō

Born on March 11, 1985, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Hakuhō Shō is a former professional sumo wrestler who has left an indelible mark on the sport. He made his debut in March 2001 and quickly ascended to the top makuuchi division by May 2004. At the young age of twenty-two, he achieved the prestigious rank of yokozuna in May 2007, becoming the second Mongolian and the fourth non-Japanese rikishi to do so.

Hakuhō's career is distinguished by a record-breaking total of forty-five championships in the top makuuchi division, solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest sumo wrestlers of all time. He acquired Japanese citizenship in 2019, further intertwining his legacy with the sport's rich history. In 2009, he set a remarkable record by winning eighty-six out of ninety bouts in a calendar year, a feat he replicated in 2010, establishing one of the longest winning streaks in sumo history.

Throughout his illustrious career, Hakuhō was the only active yokozuna from 2010 until 2012 and again from March 2021 until July 2021. He broke Taihō's long-standing record by winning his thirty-third top division championship in January 2015, and he holds the records for the most wins in the top division and most career wins, achieved in May 2016 and July 2017, respectively. His tenure as yokozuna was the longest in history, culminating in his one thousandth bout as a yokozuna in July 2020.

After a remarkable twenty-year career, Hakuhō retired from professional sumo at the end of September 2021. His legacy is unmatched, with commentators and sports analysts alike recognizing him as possibly the most accomplished figure in any sport. Following his retirement, he departed from the Japan Sumo Association in June 2025 after an investigation into his stable.