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| Hull teenager heads to Japan to become pro sumo wrestler | Hull teenager heads to Japan to become pro sumo wrestler |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nicholas is only the second Briton to be offered a place at one of Japan's prestigious sumo academies | Nicholas is only the second Briton to be offered a place at one of Japan's prestigious sumo academies |
| A 15-year-old boy is preparing to head to Japan to become a professional sumo wrestler. | A 15-year-old boy is preparing to head to Japan to become a professional sumo wrestler. |
| Nicholas, from Hull, has become only the second Briton to earn a place in one of Japan's prestigious sumo academies, known as stables. | Nicholas, from Hull, has become only the second Briton to earn a place in one of Japan's prestigious sumo academies, known as stables. |
| Nicholas, who only took up the sport two years ago, said he was excited for the "amazing opportunity". | Nicholas, who only took up the sport two years ago, said he was excited for the "amazing opportunity". |
| "I've been given a chance and I intend to go as hard as possible at it. My hope is to reach the high ranks," he said. | "I've been given a chance and I intend to go as hard as possible at it. My hope is to reach the high ranks," he said. |
| Nicholas won three golds in the international Baruto Cup, held in Estonia, in 2023 and 2024. | Nicholas won three golds in the international Baruto Cup, held in Estonia, in 2023 and 2024. |
| "I went over to Estonia to visit my grandmother and my dad had connections to a sumo wrestler who reached the second highest rank in Japan and he hosts a tournament every year. | "I went over to Estonia to visit my grandmother and my dad had connections to a sumo wrestler who reached the second highest rank in Japan and he hosts a tournament every year. |
| "I went to it, and I managed to win somehow. | "I went to it, and I managed to win somehow. |
| "My opponents were very tough so I surprised myself with my abilities and, from then on, I realised sumo wrestling was the sport for me," he said. | "My opponents were very tough so I surprised myself with my abilities and, from then on, I realised sumo wrestling was the sport for me," he said. |
| British Sumo President Scott Findlay has been coaching Nicholas | |
| Nicholas has practiced Judo since he was six years old and used to play for the East Hull youth rugby team. | Nicholas has practiced Judo since he was six years old and used to play for the East Hull youth rugby team. |
| He credits the two sports for giving him some of the skills needed for sumo wrestling. | He credits the two sports for giving him some of the skills needed for sumo wrestling. |
| His dad Georgi said: "I still can't believe it. It's amazing. I never even dreamed about this. | His dad Georgi said: "I still can't believe it. It's amazing. I never even dreamed about this. |
| "I think he has enough dedication to go far. He has been in Japan training through all the school holidays and he learned Japanese in a year. | "I think he has enough dedication to go far. He has been in Japan training through all the school holidays and he learned Japanese in a year. |
| "He is definitely dedicated." | "He is definitely dedicated." |
| After completing his GCSEs, Nicholas will travel to Japan on June 19, shortly before his 16th birthday. | After completing his GCSEs, Nicholas will travel to Japan on June 19, shortly before his 16th birthday. |
| British Sumo president Scott Findlay, who is also head of the British national team, has been working with Nicholas ahead of his trip to Japan. | |
| "He literally is the second person to ever be offered a place at a stable in Japan and the last one was 1989," Mr Findlay said. | |
| "I see Nicholas, as long as he stays injury free, there's no reason why he can't reach the highest rankings within the sumo community. | "I see Nicholas, as long as he stays injury free, there's no reason why he can't reach the highest rankings within the sumo community. |
| "Basically, if he got there he would be revered in Japan as a god." | "Basically, if he got there he would be revered in Japan as a god." |
| Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. | Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. |