FRANKLYWNOW - Strory with Form - pulldown

Strory with Form - pulldown

Soichi Hashimoto could have stayed away from the Rio Olympics.

Having missed out on selection for Japan's judo team -- in the -73kg division -- he could have been forgiven for staying at home.

"I was disappointed in myself, watching the Rio Olympic Games from the sidelines," Hashimoto tells CNN on missing out to Shohei Ono, who would go on to win gold.

"This was the main reason why I went to Rio, to feel the disappointment and feel the atmosphere at the Olympic Games.

"When I was watching the medal ceremony, I imagined myself on the highest spot of the podium in four years time."

While Rio was heartache for Hashimoto, sitting out the Tokyo 2020 Games in his home city is unthinkable.

It's that fear that drives him now.

"To have the Olympic Games being held in your own country, not many athletes have this opportunity," he says. "Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps.

"I am very motivated and, if I have the chance to represent Japan, I will be under a lot of pressure. However, I am more excited than anything."

Hashimoto is the current world champion in his weight category and ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound judoka in the world.

But his biggest battle is at home. After Rio, Ono took time out of judo to pursue his studies at Tenri University but the double world champion is expected to return to the fold for Tokyo 2020.

Despite his Rio disappointment, Hashimoto is unbeaten since 2015 on the International Judo Federation Circuit.

Nevertheless, his profile is growing in his homeland. Renowned for his dynamic style -- his quest is "to win every contest by ippon" -- he is also one of Tokyo's more eligible bachelors.

Even in the country that created the sport, Hashimoto admits it still ranks some way behind the likes of baseball and football in the popularity stakes. But he's made it his quest to "put the spotlight on judo by putting on a spectacular performance on the world stage."

For now, there are no autograph hunters. The extent of his celebrity, he says, is occasionally being recognized while grocery shopping.