Ryo Kiyuna

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| name = Ryo Kiyuna

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| image = K1PL Berlin 2018-09-16 Male Kata 115.jpg

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| caption = Ryo Kiyuna in 2018

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|7|12}}

| birth_place = Okinawa, Japan{{Cite web |date=1 January 2020 |title=Ryo Kiyuna determined to win gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, "I train 365 days a year" |url=http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2020/01/07/31496/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604174551/http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2020/01/07/31496/ |archive-date=4 June 2020 |access-date=4 June 2020 |website=Ryukyu Shimpo}}

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| sport = Karate

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Individual kata
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Ryo Kiyuna (喜友名諒, Kiyuna Ryō, born 12 July 1990){{Cite web |url=http://www.ocagames.com/orb/files/4/89/AG2018_OfficialResultBook_Karate_v1.0.pdf |title=Karate Results |website=2018 Asian Games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419171221/http://www.ocagames.com/orb/files/4/89/AG2018_OfficialResultBook_Karate_v1.0.pdf |archive-date=19 April 2020 |access-date=19 April 2020}} is an Okinawan karateka. He won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite news |last=Barker |first=Philip |date=6 August 2021 |title=World champion Kiyuna wins first men's Olympic kata title |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1111336/kiyuna-wins-mens-olympic-kata-title |access-date=6 August 2021}} He is also a four-time gold medalist in the men's kata event at the World Karate Championships and a two-time gold medalist in the men's team kata event, alongside Arata Kinjo and Takuya Uemura.{{Cite news |date=11 November 2020 |title=Remembering the 2018 Karate World Championships |work=World Karate Federation |url=https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/karate-world-championships/1424 |url-status=live |access-date=19 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113062118/https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/karate-world-championships/1424 |archive-date=13 November 2020}} He has also won multiple gold medals in both the individual and team kata events at the Asian Karate Championships.

Career

At the 2012 World Karate Championships held in Paris, France, Kiyuna won one of the bronze medals in the men's individual kata event.{{Cite web |last=Hernon |first=Matthew |date=16 August 2019 |title=Meet the Tokyo 2020 Athletes: Karate Sensation Ryo Kiyuna |url=https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2019/08/meet-tokyo-2020-athletes-karate-sensation-ryo-kiyuna/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604172418/https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2019/08/meet-tokyo-2020-athletes-karate-sensation-ryo-kiyuna/ |archive-date=4 June 2020 |access-date=4 June 2020 |website=Tokyo Weekender}} The following year, he represented Japan at the 2013 World Games in Cali, Colombia and he won the bronze medal in the men's kata event.{{Cite web |title=Karate Medalists by Event |url=https://worldgames2013.sportresult.com/NH/en/-120/Root/ViewPdf/KA0000000_C93_9.0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815221055/https://worldgames2013.sportresult.com/NH/en/-120/Root/ViewPdf/KA0000000_C93_9.0.pdf |archive-date=15 August 2020 |access-date=15 August 2020 |website=2013 World Games}}

In 2014, at the World Karate Championships held in Bremen, Germany, Kiyuna won the gold medal in the men's individual kata event.{{Cite news |last=Etchells |first=Daniel |date=29 October 2016 |title=Four gold medals for Japan on opening day of finals at 2016 Karate World Championships |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1043154/four-gold-medals-for-japan-on-opening-day-of-finals-at-2016-karate-world-championships |access-date=11 May 2020}} At the 2016 World Karate Championships held in Linz, Austria, he won the gold medal in both the men's individual and men's team kata events.{{Cite news |last=Etchells |first=Daniel |date=30 October 2016 |title=Japan top medal table at 2016 Karate World Championships after claiming team kata double on final day |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1043166/japan-top-medal-table-at-2016-karate-world-championships-after-claiming-team-kata-double-on-final-day |access-date=10 May 2020}} In 2017, Kiyuna won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the World Games held in Wrocław, Poland.{{Cite news |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/07/26/more-sports/kiyuna-shimizu-win-gold-karate-kata-world-games/ |title=Kiyuna, Shimizu win gold in karate kata at World Games |date=26 July 2017 |work=The Japan Times |access-date=18 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://worldgames2017.sportresult.com/hide/en/-120/Pdf/GetResultbookPdf?filename=Karate.pdf |title=Karate Results |website=2017 World Games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424114313/https://worldgames2017.sportresult.com/hide/en/-120/Pdf/GetResultbookPdf?filename=Karate.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2020 |access-date=24 April 2020}} In the final, he defeated Damián Quintero of Spain.

At the 2018 Asian Karate Championships held in Amman, Jordan, Kiyuna won the gold medal in the men's kata event.{{Cite news |last=Etchells |first=Daniel |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1067479/japan-claim-seven-gold-medals-at-asian-karate-championships |title=Japan claim seven gold medals at Asian Karate Championships |date=14 July 2018 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |access-date=26 April 2020}} A month later, he won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia.{{Cite news |last=Etchells |first=Daniel |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1069203/unified-korean-team-win-dragon-boat-bronze-medal-on-historic-day-at-2018-asian-games |title=Unified Korean team win dragon boat bronze medal on historic day at 2018 Asian Games |date=25 August 2018 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |access-date=23 April 2020}} In the final, he defeated Wang Yi-ta of Taiwan. In 2019, at the Asian Karate Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, he won the gold medal in both the men's individual kata and men's team kata events.{{Cite news |last=Rowbottom |first=Mike |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1082367/asian-karate-championships-in-tashkent |title=Japan earn six titles but Uzbek hosts also golden at Asian Karate Championships |date=20 July 2019 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |access-date=23 April 2020}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/akf-seniorresultados-16th-akf-senior-championships-15-21-july-tashkent-uzbekistan-001.pdf |title=2019 Asian Karate Championships Results |website=World Karate Federation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423202643/https://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/akf-seniorresultados-16th-akf-senior-championships-15-21-july-tashkent-uzbekistan-001.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2020 |access-date=23 April 2020}}

Kiyuna represented Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.{{Cite news |url=https://www.wkf.net/news-center-new/meet-karates-first-qualified-athletes-for-tokyo-2020/1256 |title=WKF announces first qualified athletes for Tokyo 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |work=WKF.net |access-date=18 April 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Shefferd |first=Neil |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1092111/karate-olympic-qualifiers |title=World Karate Federation announces first 40 karatekas to have qualified for Tokyo 2020 |date=18 March 2020 |work=InsideTheGames.biz |access-date=18 April 2020}} He won the gold medal in the men's kata event,{{Cite news |date=6 August 2021 |title=Karate-Okinawa's Kiyuna mesmerises to win men's kata gold |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/karate-okinawa-native-kiyuna-mesmerises-mens-kata-contest-2021-08-06/ |access-date=7 August 2021}}{{Cite news |date=8 August 2021 |title=Tokyo Olympics: Karate - the one-Games wonder that delivered on drama and emotion |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/58134761 |access-date=8 August 2021}} becoming Japan's first gold medalist from Okinawa.{{cite web |title=Sayonara, and bonjour: Japanese stars who shone brightly at Tokyo 2020 |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/olympics-japan-stars-tokyo-2020 |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |date=8 August 2021 |access-date=10 August 2021 |archive-date=10 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810015216/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/en/news/olympics-japan-stars-tokyo-2020 |url-status=dead }} In the final, he defeated Damián Quintero of Spain.{{Cite web |title=Karate Results Book |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/KTE/OG2020-_KTE_B99_KTE-------------------------------.pdf |work=Tokyo 2020 Olympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |access-date=10 August 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810072155/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/KTE/OG2020-_KTE_B99_KTE-------------------------------.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2021}} He was also the flag bearer for Japan during the closing ceremony.{{Cite web |title=List of Tokyo 2020 closing ceremony flag bearers |url=https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/News/2021/08/Tokyo-2020-Closing-Ceremony-Flag-bearers.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004201903/https://stillmed.olympics.com/media/Documents/News/2021/08/Tokyo-2020-Closing-Ceremony-Flag-bearers.pdf |archive-date=4 October 2021 |access-date=16 November 2021 |work=Olympics.com |publisher=International Olympic Committee}} A few months after the Olympics, he won the gold medal in the men's kata event at the 2021 World Karate Championships held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Liam |date=20 November 2021 |title=Kiyuna makes history as Olympic gold medallists retain titles at Karate World Championships |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1115725/olympic-gold-star-karate-world-champs |access-date=20 November 2021}}{{Cite web |title=2021 World Karate Championships Results Book |url=https://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/world-championshipsresultados-25th-world-championships-dubai-001.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121193114/https://www.wkf.net/imagenes/campeonatos/world-championshipsresultados-25th-world-championships-dubai-001.pdf |archive-date=21 November 2021 |access-date=21 November 2021 |website=World Karate Federation}} In December 2021, he won the gold medal in both the men's individual and men's team kata events at the Asian Karate Championships held in Almaty, Kazakhstan.{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=22 December 2021 |title=Japan top medal table at Asian Karate Championships in Almaty |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117171/japan-asian-karate-champs-2021 |access-date=22 December 2021}}{{Cite web |title=2021 Asian Karate Championships Results Book |url=https://www.sportdata.org/wkf/ausschreibungen/449/ResultBook.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222173136/https://www.sportdata.org/wkf/ausschreibungen/449/ResultBook.pdf |archive-date=22 December 2021 |access-date=22 December 2021 |website=Sportdata.org}}

Personal life

He studied at Okinawa International University. In December 2020, he contracted COVID-19.{{Cite news |last=Berkeley |first=Geoff |date=19 December 2020 |title=Karate world champion Kiyuna contracts coronavirus as cases rise in Japan |work=InsideTheGames.biz |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1102197/kiyuna-contracts-coronavirus-karate |url-status=live |access-date=19 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201219165127/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1102197/kiyuna-contracts-coronavirus-karate |archive-date=19 December 2020}}

Kiyuna's mother died in 2019 at the age of 57. At the gold medal ceremony for kata at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Kiyuna paid tribute to his mother's support by carrying a framed picture of her during the proceedings.{{citation |last1=Denyer |first1=Simon |last2=Inuma |first2=Julia Mio |title=An Okinawa native wins gold in karate, making history for his sport and its birthplace |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=6 August 2021 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/08/06/okinawa-ryo-kiyuna-olympic-gold-karate/}}{{citation |title=Japan's Kiyuna confident karate will return to Olympics |newspaper=Kyodo News |date=7 August 2021 |url=https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/08/6e431d12b9c5-japans-kiyuna-confident-karate-will-return-to-olympics.html}}

Achievements

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Year	Competition	Venue	Rank	Event
2012 \|World Championships \|Paris, France \|bgcolor="cc9966" \| 3rd \|Individual kata
rowspan=3 \| 2013 \|World Games \|Cali, Colombia \|bgcolor="cc9966" \| 3rd \|Individual kata
World Combat Games \|Saint Petersburg, Russia \|bgcolor="silver" \| 2nd \|Individual kata
Asian Championships \|Dubai, United Arab Emirates \|bgcolor="cc9966" \| 3rd \|Individual kata
2014 \|World Championships \|Bremen, Germany \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
rowspan=2 \| 2015 \|rowspan=2 \| Asian Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Yokohama, Japan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
rowspan=2 \| 2016 \|rowspan=2 \| World Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Linz, Austria \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
rowspan=3 \| 2017 \|rowspan=2 \| Asian Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Astana, Kazakhstan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
World Games \|Wrocław, Poland \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
rowspan=5 \| 2018 \|rowspan=2 \| Asian Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Amman, Jordan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
Asian Games \|Jakarta, Indonesia \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
rowspan=2 \| World Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Madrid, Spain \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
rowspan=2 \| 2019 \|rowspan=2 \| Asian Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Tashkent, Uzbekistan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
rowspan=4 \| 2021 \|Summer Olympics \|Tokyo, Japan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
World Championships \|Dubai, United Arab Emirates \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
rowspan=2 \| Asian Championships \|rowspan=2 \| Almaty, Kazakhstan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Individual kata
bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata
2022 \|Asian Championships \|Tashkent, Uzbekistan \|bgcolor="gold" \| 1st \|Team kata

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Year

Competition

Venue

Rank

Event

2012

|World Championships

|Paris, France

|bgcolor="cc9966" | 3rd

|Individual kata

rowspan=3 | 2013