Akari Fujinami thought she would not be able to wrestle at the Paris Olympics when she underwent left elbow surgery in March.

But the 20-year-old resumed sparring in late May and won the women's 53-kilogram wrestling gold medal in a dominant Olympic debut.

Her father and coach Toshikazu, reacting to her triumph, revealed Thursday she showed great patience in training following the surgery and came out the other side even stronger.

Akari Fujinami (blue) of Japan reacts after beating Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman of Ecuador in the wrestling women's freestyle 53-kilogram final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 8, 2024, at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

That resilience translated to her Olympic run turning out to be smoother than he even imagined.

Fujinami took a flying leap to hug her father as soon as she defeated Ecuador's Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman by a score of 10-0 in the final at the Champ-de-Mars Arena, a culmination of a journey that began when she was 4 years old.

"When I got the injury, I angrily asked 'Why now?' I thought I wouldn't be ready by the Olympics," Fujinami said. "Now I can say the injury made this gold more special, and everything that happens does so for a reason."

Akari Fujinami (L) of Japan hugs her father and coach Toshikazu Fujinami after beating Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman of Ecuador in the wrestling women's freestyle 53-kilogram final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 8, 2024, at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Akari Fujinami (R) of Japan celebrates with her father and coach Toshikazu Fujinami after beating Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman of Ecuador in the wrestling women's freestyle 53-kilogram final at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 8, 2024, at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Fujinami expected her opponents to target her injured elbow, so she readied herself in training, with the Paris bouts her first real competition since January where she could test it out.

"I really kept thinking about this moment of victory, and it's just an unbelievable feeling after I was able to do what I've always dreamed of," Fujinami said.

"I first thought about tackling my father but ended up in a hug. I want to thank him and my mother as well."

Akari Fujinami (2nd from R) of Japan poses after winning gold in the wrestling women's freestyle 53-kilogram at the Paris Olympics on Aug. 8, 2024, at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris, alongside silver medalist Lucia Yamileth Yepez Guzman (far R) of Ecuador and bronze medalists Choe Hyo Gyong (far L) of North Korea and Pang Qianyu of China. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Her four wins in the French capital extended her winning streak to 137 matches and Fujinami has now won all eight international tournaments since her first appearance at the world championships in 2021 at the age of 17.

Yepez Guzman was unable to get anything going against the phenomenal Fujinami this time, but was happy to earn silver.

"I battled a lot for this result," the 23-year-old said. "It's very special because it's the first Olympic wrestling medal for Ecuador."

"We have very few resources. My mother worked all day to pay expenses. Maybe one time I get the gold medal."

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Olympics: Akari Fujinami gets wrestling gold, extends winning streak to 137