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Helen Delpopolo loves to battle, and she always has.
"It is who I am almost more than anything -- it defines me,” she stated.
An accomplished judoka, or judo participant, a winner on the international level, Helen took up sumo wrestling some time ago, at the age of 12.
Helen will represent the USA at the World Sumo Championships in Japan next month.
Helen has incredible strength and technique as she heads to Japan in a tough year that saw the passing of two of her key mentors.
They'll be in her heart as she battles as will her family, she says -- especially her dad.
"Anytime I get on the mat and he watches me kick some butt, I see that smile he gets and it makes it all worth it -- everything, all the injuries, missing out on the partying, missing out with your friends. It makes everything worth it,” she explained.
However, there’s not a lot of money in sumo wrestling, it’s what she loves.
At the age of 22, Helen owns and runs two businesses- landscaping and lawn sprinklers, and will be paying her own way to Japan.
The United States will be well-represented in women's sumo in Japan and Chasing News wishes her the best of luck.
You can help support the current 2015 Middleweight Sumo National Champion by going to her GoFundMe page, http://www.gofundme.com/delpopolo.