Sae Tsuji finished fifth in the 400-meter track and field women's arm-impaired class held at the Tokyo Paralympics on the 28th, and did not win medals for the second consecutive tournament.

Tsuji said, "I was able to exert 120% of my strength," with straight eyes bleeding with tears.

Days of facing suffering

Tsuji has no right elbow since he was born.

When he was a college student, he switched from handball to athletics, and a year and a half later, he challenged himself at the age of 21 at the Rio de Janeiro Games, where he won a bronze medal.

It was in the limelight.

But it was also the beginning of every day of facing suffering.

With the birth of the heroine, the expectations of those around him were rising, saying, "I will win a medal at the Tokyo tournament," and I was flooded with interviews.

At one point I couldn't concentrate on my practice.

In addition, I haven't been able to shorten my time for the last two years.

The level of overseas players has also risen, and the adult world championship has finished in 7th place.

Tsuji:


"There was a part where I had given up on my own. It was a negative feeling that no matter what I did, it wouldn't work."

I want to grab the light that can be seen at the end of the tunnel

I have to change something ...

This spring, less than half a year before the Tokyo tournament, Tsuji made a bold decision.

I decided to run without a prosthetic hand.


Until now, I ran with a prosthetic hand for competition while balancing the left and right, but in the latter half of the race, my right arm became numb and my arm swinged slowly, which was also a factor leading to stall.

This led to immediate results.


The swing of the arm, which was an issue at the domestic competition in April, has improved.

He set a new record of 58.45 seconds in Japan, and his strong determination was raised.

Tsuji:


"I was worried that I would be involved in the medal battle again, but I still want a medal. I feel like I've passed through a long tunnel. I want to grab the light that can be seen beyond that."

Turn support into power

Tokyo Paralympics, the final of the women's 400-meter class with a disability on the 28th.

Tsuji showed his tenacity by waving his arm to the end even in the race development that was preceded by overseas players.

The gold medal player did not reach the medal in the high-level battle of 56 seconds, and finished 5th.

After the race, Tsuji positively took it as "a big experience."

For the past five years, I even thought, "If I quit the competition, it might be easier."


There was a sense of accomplishment that I was able to reach this point with the support of the people around me and finished running safely.

Among them, the first person to name was Yoko Mizuno, director of Nippon Sport Science University, who has been instructed and walked with him.

I expressed my gratitude.

Tsuji players


"early in the morning the night not only of practice until late mental and body care, me doing attention to me than to many things such as meal, me catch any bad result,"



receiving the expectations of around , The second dream stage that I arrived at by facing myself and turning support into power.



"I couldn't run on my own,"



said a powerful look, saying that the journey was worth the medal he got five years ago.