The truth of the 9th lane "offensive baton" October 20, 16:34

It happened at the Tokyo Olympics, a national stadium that was quiet in the absence of spectators.

A baton mistake at the men's 400m relay on land that vowed to aim for the gold medal.

It was the worst possible scenario.

Five years have passed since the silver medal of delight.

The "strongest" team, with three 9-second sprinters, finished the tournament in just 10 seconds.

For the first time, the four spoke about what was happening at that time.

It is the truth of the 9th lane "offensive baton" of the national stadium.

(Sports News Department Reporter Shigeru Sato and Tatsuki Kobayashi)

In a stadium with no spectators

At the moment of the tragedy, I was fascinated by blood.

I felt that the screams echoed even though the stadium had no spectators.

Immediately after the interview, the four people repeated, "The result of the offensive baton."

Japan had the slowest qualifying time among the eight teams that advanced to the final.

The secret to the reversal gold medal was to suppress the deceleration to the utmost limit with the baton pass, which is his specialty, that is, "offensive baton".

A painful mistake that happened there.

Within the limited coverage time, I could not reach the essential cause.

Above all, it was not a situation where they could talk calmly.

I really wanted to know.

Why did it happen and what did I get from this tragedy?

2 Run, Ryota Yamagata's testimony September 27, Yokohama

The first thing I went to was Ryota Yamagata, who didn't receive the baton.

The oldest 29-year-old Japanese record holder in the men's 100 meters.

He also played a major role as captain of the Japanese team at the local Olympics.

He told me that he would ask a question at that moment, which I wouldn't want to remember, but he was willing to respond to the interview.

Ryota Yamagata

"I don't hide anything, I think I have to accept everything, so it's okay."

It was when I was asked to watch the video that Yamagata's facial expression changed completely in the interview that began with such words.

In fact, he never looked back at the video after the race.

In practice, Yamagata's style is to look back at the video as soon as he finishes running one run and use it to improve his running.

I thought it wasn't like that.

He said with a smile, "I don't see a good video," but when I started watching the video on my laptop, my face changed.

Yamagata continued to watch the edited footage of "the moment" and "immediately after" from various shooting positions, sometimes biting his lower lip with a stern look.

It was about two minutes, but the video was still playing, but Yamagata closed the computer saying, "Thank you. I understand."

"Tada-kun, it was fast."

The first voice was simple.

Without a doubt, Shuhei Tada was really fast in the first run of the day.

I'll mention later that it contributes to mistakes, but it's ironic.

Yamagata said that it is difficult to identify the cause of the mistake.

Still, he gave me some factors that I think.

The key was the word "sweetness of assumption".

The four of them faced the race with the feeling of "gold medal or disqualification".

What Yamagata can do to receive the baton is to believe in Tada and make a bold start.

There was no room for thinking about the usual "adjustment of force".

Ryota Yamagata

"There was a place where I was in the game this time. However, I feel that the assumptions made after considering various situations were unsatisfactory."

What is "assumed sweetness"?

Yamagata revealed a part of it, keeping in mind that Japan ran 9 lanes outside and 8 lanes inside it was Italy with a gold medal.

"Which team and which player is inside (in the lane), and what kind of situation is expected when holding it? Based on that, the speed of exit is suppressed a little" instead of "daring" "Should I have to think about that kind of thing?"

What exactly does that mean?

"When one run runs in 9 lanes, it will overtake the 2nd run player (waiting for the baton) in the next 8 lanes. At that time, the 2nd run player will jump out (to the lane in which he runs). There is a feeling of oppression. I have run one run as a representative several times so far, so I should have been able to convey that experience to Mr. Tada. I think that was a little sweet. "

It was the first time I heard it.

Then.

"Did the players in 8 lanes influence Tada's running?" Yamagata answered briefly in response to further questions.

"I want you to ask him a little."

1st run, Shuhei Tada's testimony September 30 in Tokyo

After receiving Yamagata's words, I visited Shuhei Tada next.

This is to ask straight whether the presence of the Italian player in the lane on the left influenced his running.

The reporter (Kobayashi) has been interviewing for five years since he was working in Tada's hometown of Osaka.

It's been almost two months since the race, but Tada says it's the first time he's answered about "that race."

Even the reporter, who had been interacting with him many times, felt a unique tension on this day.

Shuhei Tada

"I was very disappointed and depressed because I made a baton mistake on the biggest stage. It took me a while to switch because I was aiming for a gold medal."

He said, "I'm switching my feelings toward my next goal," but his expression still exudes regret.

When I asked Tada about the situation at that time, he said that he had little memory of the area from immediately after the race to the area where we were.

Meanwhile, about 5 to 6 minutes.

He even felt that he might not be able to run again because of fear because of the heavy responsibility.

Tada talked about why the baton didn't cross.

Shuhei Tada

"Italian player and Mr. Yamagata were wearing it, and I couldn't see Mr. Yamagata for a moment. When Mr. Yamagata appeared again, he was far away and rushed to run I think one of the reasons is that it has become hard. "

According to Tada, Yamagata disappeared from sight for a moment when he saw a player waiting for the baton in the next lane as he went through the curve at speed.

After that, he "unconsciously avoided and went around," and then returned to the inside again, and recalled that he had slowed down slightly.

Yamagata, who receives the baton, set the position where Tada reached and started running 20 cm farther than the qualifying in order to realize an "offensive baton".

Moreover, he was off to a "deep-hearted" start.

The baton, which was 100% handed over at the training camp just before, did not connect in the actual production.

There was also an ironic factor that Tada on that day was faster than ever.

Tada himself revealed that it led to a baton mistake due to "meandering".

"Maybe because I was able to lead (Italy next door) quite a bit, the two (Italy) runners hadn't started yet, so I think they overlapped (with Yamagata)."

Testimony of Anchor Yuki Koike October 1st in Tokyo

Yamagata who couldn't receive the baton and Tada who couldn't hand it over.

The testimony of the two parties revealed a situation that had not been clarified so far.

So what did the two, who couldn't even run, see and think?

Anchor Yuki Koike talked about the memory of that day with excitement.

Yuki Koike

"The moment Tada came out, I was thinking,'Oh, that's amazing! This is coming!'. I was waiting with the image that I would come in the same order."

Contrary to that thought, the baton never fell into his own hands.

As the anchors of the other teams rushed toward the finish, they stood alone.

What I was thinking was Tada who couldn't pass the baton.

"I haven't been able to hand over the baton at the World Relays, so Tada, I'm okay."

Adult World Relay Tournament.

The members are the same four as this time, but Koike served as the third run and Kiryu served as the anchor.

In that qualifying, there was a mistake that the baton did not pass from Koike to Kiryu.

From this experience, Tada's feelings were painfully understood.

Yuki Koike

"Everyone sees that the person who

owns the

baton is responsible, and that's what they actually say. When I fail, I understand that I'm terrible." Tada, I was really worried if it was okay. "

Koike gently put his hand on Tada's body, which was barely able to walk, and continued to support him.

He never touched on the results and called out.

"I was running really well. It was fast."

To aim only for "gold".

The pride and pride that there was no mistake in the "offensive baton" was the basis.

3 Run, Yoshihide Kiryu's testimony October 7 Saitama

The last one I visited was Yoshihide Kiryu.

He is the player who had the greatest feelings for this race.

This is because he was the only one of the four who missed the 100-meter dash.

I also had Kiryu watch the video.

It is said that there was a new discovery.

Yoshihide Kiryu

"I've never seen the baton" faint "between the first and second runs, or missed it once. I thought it was too far to cross completely, but that's it. I was terrified. "

Looking back at the video, Tada's baton is certainly touching Yamagata's hand.

It was a line that crossed or did not cross the delivery section of the baton.

On that day, Kiryu was not in a position to understand this situation.

This is because the two baton passes are almost in a straight line when viewed from Kiryu in the third run.

Yoshihide Kiryu

"(Until I received the baton) I knew about" Oh, don't pull it. "After that, when I thought" that? ", Mr. Yamagata didn't have the baton."

After the race, I rushed to the two of them first.

Then they hit their shoulders and pushed their backs.

Kiryu who should have wanted to run this race first.

How do you feel that you couldn't even start the final?

Yoshihide Kiryu

"Of course I wanted to run. If I was running in the final, I might wonder what would have happened if the baton was connected as it was. Personally, 100 meters I wasn't able to go to the twirling, so I wanted to see how well my run would be in the world. I was disappointed, but I thought it was because of this disappointment that I had to go next. I'm

The meaning of the applause that echoed at that time

What happened and what were you thinking at that time?

Four people who talked about the frank heart.

There is an unforgettable sight for the reporter (Sato).

It was during an interview in the coverage area.

The four managed to spun words to the people behind the camera, mixing their thoughts and facial expressions with disappointment, discouragement, and tears.

Immediately after finishing the interview for about 5 minutes.

"Pachi", "Pachi", "Pachi".

The applause that someone started spread to the people, volunteers, and us media who were in the stadium without spectators.

Applause that echoed around.

It was like a standing ovation from a crowded audience who saw the stage.

Four people leaving the coverage area.

Tada still walks around.

Yamagata desperately raises his face.

Kiryu bowed to us applauding.

Koike continued to shed tears.

The applause continued to echo in the stadium for about a minute until the four disappeared.

The meaning of applause may be different for each person.

However, we have one thought that we have been interviewing since before the tournament.

"I'm proud of you guys who attacked sincerely."

When I asked Yamagata about this scene, I remembered it clearly.

"I'm grateful for something like this ..."

Speaking with deep emotion, he repeated words.

"In a nutshell, we've been saved by that. We're competing thinking that we have no choice but to produce results. But when things don't go as expected, until now There are many times, but it's hard to say that you should see that attitude. "

I continued.

"But there was a person who saw it this time and applauded me. It supports our hearts. That's why we can look forward and compete again. That applause is like that. I felt that"

Tragedy is the beginning of the famous scene

Actually, on the night of the final, after the date changed, the four were kneeling in the Olympic Village.

Three people other than Tada who gathered naturally.

It is said that Kiryu went there to call Tada.

Kiryu looks back on this time.

"I can't think of any positive things even if I'm alone at such times. I thought it would be better for everyone to talk about how to move on to the next, rather than being alone."

At first it was a chat.

However, the center of conversation gradually shifted to land.

"What were we lacking now?"

"What should we do to constantly put out the 9-second range?"

"Fundamentally, I

think there is

not enough physical strength. Isn't it? "

Each of them talked openly about their usual awareness of problems, questions, and experiences.

I noticed that it was past 4 am.

Leader Yamagata said:

"After all, Japan has to win a gold medal in the 4th relay (= 400m relay)."

Next year and next year, the world championships will be held for the second consecutive year, and the Paris Olympics will be on the horizon.

"Because of this result, let's do it so that we can say that we have become the best in the world."

Three people nodded deeply to Yamagata's words.

And the connected words saved Tada.

"I want to run again with these four people"

Tada also talked about this time.

"I was in a position where I wouldn't be blamed if I was normal, but I was really happy to say that. I was about to break my heart, but that word really gave me courage."

It was the moment when the baton was connected by the hearts of four people.

Kiryu used a unique expression to look back and talk about the future.

"Various stories aren't all good things. Movies with only good things are boring and I get tired of it. I think it's good because there are ups and downs. I want to make such stories from now on. Hey"

The scene we call "tragedy" may be just the beginning of a famous scene that will come soon.

When I heard Kiryu's words, I felt that way.

Sports news section reporters

Shigeru Sato

2003 it joined

the Sapporo office, the current affiliation through the Yamagata station

Olympics Sochi, Rio de Janeiro, Pyeongchang, and interview Tokyo

responsible for the land and weight lifting in the Tokyo tournament

Sports news section reporters

Kobayashi Itaruki

2014 it joined

the current affiliation through the Kobe stations Osaka stations

land in the Tokyo Olympic Games, such as the charge of archery

coverage of Tada players from the era Osaka stations