Kaoru Matsumoto’s Surprising Career Change: From Olympic Judo Gold Medalist to Ice Cream Entrepreneur

Kaoru Matsumoto, a 37-year-old women’s judo gold medalist at the London Olympics, recently appeared on Fuji TV’s “Degawa Bakari Hitori no Comedian Questionnaire” and shared her unexpected career change after retiring from judo.

After the London Olympics, Matsumoto married her husband in 2016 and became a mother of one son and one daughter. Although she continued to play judo after giving birth, she announced her retirement in 2019. During her retirement press conference, she surprised the public by announcing her idea for an ice cream shop, saying, “I’m going to make ice cream!”

Matsumoto’s sudden declaration of change was triggered by her painful weight loss experience during her active days as a judo athlete. “Athletes who are trying to lose weight lose water, so they eat ice cream. They have to hold back as much as they do, but their bodies get hot, so they eat ice cream unconsciously,” she explained. However, too much sugar is a big enemy for athletes, as it can lead to injuries. “Ice cream tends to oxidize and turn into sugar, which can lead to injuries, so there was no ice cream that even athletes could safely eat,” she said.

True to her words, after retiring from judo, Matsumoto worked on ice cream product development and store management. She even passed the national confectionery hygienist exam this year. She has developed a gluten-free ice cream that even athletes won’t feel guilty about eating.

Rie Tanaka, a former member of Japan’s national gymnastics team, praised Matsumoto’s efforts, saying, “It definitely helps athletes.” Tanaka had to keep her weight within 500 grams during her active years and understands the challenges that athletes face when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet.