[Judo]Tatsu Saito announces his discharge from the hospital, “I will return to the tatami floor stronger than ever.” Neck surgery on October 30th, 1 year until return to actual competition – Sponichi Sponichi Annex Sports

Tatsu Saito (22, JES Group), a member of the men’s 100kg judo team at the Paris Olympics who underwent neck surgery on October 30th due to a hernia in his cervical vertebrae, announced on his Instagram on the 12th that he had been discharged from the hospital.

Saito posed in a thumbs-up pose at what appeared to be the entrance of the hospital and posted a message with a photo of him wearing a corset around his neck. “I was discharged from the hospital safely today. Over the past two weeks, I have been helped by many people, and I feel that being able to do judo again is not something to take for granted. Over the past year, I have rebuilt everything and will return to the tatami mat stronger. I am truly grateful for everyone’s kind words.”

Saito, who finished fifth in the individual competition at the Paris Olympics and missed out on a medal, said that he had been experiencing symptoms of weakness in his right hand since May of this year, three months before the actual event, and when he underwent a thorough examination after the competition, it was discovered that he had a hernia in his cervical vertebrae. I received a diagnosis. Although it does not affect his daily life, he decided to have the surgery in anticipation of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It is expected that it will take about a year before he can return to action.

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