Konishiki Yasokichi

Konishiki Yasokichi , is a Hawaiianborn JapaneseSamoan former sumo wrestler. He was the first nonJapaneseborn wrestler to reach zeki, the second highest rank in the sport. During his career he won the top division championship on three occasions and came close to becoming the first foreignborn grand champion, or yokozuna, prompting a debate as to whether a foreigner could have the necessary cultural understanding to be acceptable in sumos ultimate rank. At a peak weight of 287160kg he was also the heaviest rikishi ever in sumo, earning him the nickname The Dump Truck.

Atisanoe entered sumo in July 1982 at the age of 18, recruited by another Hawaiian born wrestler, Takamiyama of the Takasago stable. A promising student at the University High School in Honolulu, he initially wanted to be a lawyer and was also offered a music scholarship to Syracuse University. His father had regular work with the US Navy but had to support eight children. Atisanoe regarded Takamiyama as a local hero and found the opportunity to join sumo too hard to resist.

Source: Wikipedia