Jose Galindo, Sumotori of the Month

Jose defeats Caleb Baccus en route to winning the 2020 Consulate’s Cup in Austin, TX

Jose Galindo stormed onto the sumo scene in 2019 with one of the best debut performances in recent memory. At his very first U.S. Open, Galindo ran through a gauntlet of the toughest heavyweights in the world en route to a silver medal. Notching wins against multi-time United States champion Robert Fuimaono, the 500-pound Egyptian champion Robby Elgazar, and Japanese former Sekitori Hiroki Sumi, Galindo stunned the packed Walter Pyramid and the entire sumo world time and time again. 

Hoping to build on his stellar debut performance, Jose set his sights on the 2020 U.S. National Championships. His goal, he says, “is to not only compete at worlds but to medal.” Still, showing the humility of a true sumo wrestler , Jose credits some of his early success to luck and acknowledges that he’s “got a long road to go.”

Though Fuimaono managed to avenge his U.S. Open loss, Galindo did enough at nationals to earn a spot on the U.S. National Team. While his World Championship aspirations have since been delayed by the global pandemic, Jose‘s stunning debut year is a sure sign of the tremendous potential this young competitor holds.