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.