Team USA Sumo—Help Me Get to Worlds

From Curiosity to Champion: Help Me Represent the U.S. in Thailand

In January 2025, I stumbled across a Grand Sumo Tournament out of sheer curiosity. I was instantly captivated—not just by the strength, but by the presence, the energy, the honor of it all. Something inside me lit up. That moment shifted everything.

By February, I had laced up for my very first sumo practice. No prior combat sports background. No formal roadmap. Just grit, raw determination, and a whole lot of heart.

Fast forward to April 2025: I stepped into the ring at the U.S. National Sumo Championships in Austin, Texas… and walked away a gold medalist in the Women’s Light Heavyweight Division.

Now, I’ve been selected to represent Team USA at the World Sumo Championships in Thailand this September.

This journey has been nothing short of miraculous, but it hasn’t been easy, and it won’t be cheap. International training, travel, lodging, gear, and recovery are all necessary investments to compete at this level. I’m putting in the work daily, mentally and physically, but I need your support to get there.

Why donate?

Because this is bigger than me.

Sumo isn't just a sport—it's a new chapter in my life. As a 13-year military veteran, a mom of three, and a multi-hyphenate creative (dancer, coach, athlete, bartender—you name it), I’ve spent my life choosing growth, even when it was hard. Sumo is my next level—and Thailand is the stage.

Whether it’s $5, $50, or simply sharing this story, every act of support fuels my training, covers vital expenses, and brings this dream closer to reality.

Let’s make Big Belly Melly a global name.

Because I’m not just going to Thailand—I’m going to win.

With gratitude and grit,

Mell “Big Belly Melly” Miranda

#RoadToThailand #TeamUSA #SumoStrong