American Wins Sumo Title

TOKYO - A Hawaiian colossus today broke an ancient tradition by being named the first foreign grand champion of sumo - reaching the sport's pinnacle faster than any Japanese ever had.

Chad Rowan, 23, unanimously was recommended by an advisory panel to the sport's ruling body, ending a long controversy over whether chauvinism and xenophobia would deny sumo's highest laurels to foreigners.

To become a grand champion - or "yokozuna" - requires winning two consecutive tournaments or having a record deemed of equal worth.

Another Hawaiian, Salevaa Atisanoe, was denied the rank last year despite an impressive record and later was quoted as blaming racism.

But his record was easily outdone by Rowan.

The sumo star of the moment, who wrestles under the name Akebono (Sunrise), won his second straight 15-day tournament yesterday.

"I had always thought of grand champions like gods," said the 6-foot-8, 455-pound Akebono, clad in a gray cotton kimono and wearing his hair in the traditional topknot.

Akebono, a former Hawaii Pacific College basketball player, officially will become grand champion after a three-hour Shinto ceremony Saturday.

"He is awesome," sumo's head official, former grand champion Dewanoumi, said after watching the Honolulu native take only two seconds to bull popular Japanese rival Takahanada out of the ring

yesterday.