Russian sumo wrestler, once world's heaviest child, dies aged 21

The Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid reported that Khatokhov had suffered from kidney problems.

By REUTERS

DECEMBER 30, 2020 10:59

Spectators are seen as sumo wrestlers hold a ring-entering ceremony at the July Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo (photo credit: REUTERS) — Spectators are seen as sumo wrestlers hold a ring-entering ceremony at the July Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo

(photo credit: REUTERS)

Russian sumo wrestler Dzhambulat Khatokhov, who entered the Guinness World Records as the world's heaviest child in 2003, has died at the age of 21, sports officials in his native region said.

A Russian sumo wrestler who was once known as “The World’s Heaviest Boy” has died at the age of 21.Dzhambulat Khatokhov grew to over 300 pounds by his ninth birthday and was the subject of several documentaries. https://t.co/AZU78aiXtw
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) December 29, 2020

Betal Gubzhev, head of the body governing sumo wrestling in the southern Kabardino-Balkaria region, announced Khatokhov's death on Instagram on Tuesday, but did not disclose its cause.

The Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid reported that Khatokhov had suffered from kidney problems.

As a two-year-old, Khatokhov weighed about 34 kilograms (75 lbs), and weighed in at around 180 kilograms (397 lbs) when he was 13, according to Russian media.

Wrestling is popular in Russia's North Caucasus area, including in the regions of Kabardino-Balkaria, Chechnya and Dagestan.