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Zoo names giraffe after Japan star Ayumu Goromaru
ESPN Staff
November 3, 2015
© Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Ayumu Goromaru's remarkable 2015 continues after a zoo in Hamamatsu opted to name their newly-born giraffe after the Japan star.

Reports in the Japan Times say a male baby giraffe born in September at Hamamatsu Zoological Gardens will carry the name 'Goromaru' after visitors chose that over three other sporting stars.

Goromaru topped the poll which also featured 'Kei', 'Yuzuru' and 'Kiryu' which seem to refer to tennis player Kei Nishikori, figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu and track star Yoshihide Kiryu. Goromaru collected 773 votes out of the 2000 cast.

Giraffe 'Goromaru' is born into a family of some sporting pedigree with his father named after golfer Ryo Ishikawa. A zoo representative said of the decision to call him Goromaru: "We want the animal to grow soundly into a strong adult like Mr. Goromaru."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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