Keyword to Tokyo "To the best waypoint" Haruka Kitaguchi Land throwing February 21 18:40

Haruka Kitaguchi is expected to play an active role in the Tokyo Olympics and on the land. Last year, he set a new Japanese record twice.
The Japanese record 66m00 is a good record equivalent to a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. In particular, his attention has been on record growth, and in a year he has improved his personal best by almost 5 meters. What is behind the rapid growth? (* Titles are omitted below)

Attractive smile and brightness

"Looking at the camera makes me laugh. Ahahahaha"
The north exit's trademark is a smile.
The smile is constant even during practice with the brightness of Tenma.

The smile burst out at the Kitakyushu Carnival last October. Marked a new record of 66m00 in Japan at the tournament positioned as the final match of the season. He has set a record of 1 meter 64 in his Japanese record.

Just before that, in the Qatar Doha last season's biggest game, the world championship, I missed the finals, but it was a big throw that cleared the uphill.
66m00 is a good record equivalent to a silver medal at both the Rio de Janeiro and London Games in the past Olympics.
At a glance, he became a medal candidate at the Tokyo Games.

Kitaguchi: "I thought that the 66m figure was a bit more painful record than I had ever had. I want to throw. ''

The personal best before last season was the North Exit, which was 61m38. It was 64m36 last May. It is 66m00 in October. It grew rapidly by nearly five meters.

A runway that was a strong shoulder and weak point

The strength of the north exit is a powerful throw that makes use of the blessed physique of 1 meter 79 cm.
It is a strong shoulder that supports it.
Even while practicing, throwing a 3kg ball against a wall will make a heavy sound like "Don! Don!"
When she was in elementary school, she won badminton nationwide. He started swimming at the age of three and continued halfway through high school. The rich experience of various sports has led not only to the strength of the shoulders, but also to the range of motion and flexibility of the joints.

On the other hand, approaching technology has been an issue.
He started throwing high school and concentrated on land when he was a second year high school student.
In addition to lack of experience, there were no elbow injuries or a dedicated coach at the university, and he had not been able to renew his personal best for more than two years.

Bold decision to improve runway

The turning point came two years ago at the north exit, which was troubled alone.
I met a Czech coach David Sekrak.

The Eastern European Czech Republic is a "jaw-throwing nation" with women's world record holders. Wanting to learn some of the best techniques in the Czech Republic in order to break his shell, the north entrance himself sent an email to Sekelak, a junior-generation Czech coach.
And last February, he went to the Czech Republic alone for guidance.

Kitaguchi: "I thought that if I kept it as it was in Japan, I would suffer for a long time. I thought I had to go now."

Coach Sekilac, who spoke to the north exit with a light feeling at the beginning, "Would you like to come to the Czech Republic?"

Sechrak coach "I was very impressed that a young girl came to the Czech Republic far away from Japan. She had a strong determination to change something, something young people don't do now."

According to Sekilac coach, Kitaguchi said, "I have high physical abilities, but I did not have enough professional training in javelin throwing."
In the Czech Republic, the basic practice of kicking the ground strongly was repeated. He spent almost four months in the last year in the Czech Republic, strengthening his lower body thoroughly. Polished the throw without relying on the power of the shoulder.
The 66m00 Big Throw was built with a trustworthy Skellac coach.

Kitaguchi: "Until then, I was told that the run was slower than my surroundings, so I thought I had to speed up. But I went to the Czech Republic and said," I don't have to run fast and I can throw it to the end. I was able to get the technology that suits me and I was very stable mentally. "

“To the best waypoint”

The Tokyo Games will be the first Olympic Games for Kitaguchi, who turns 22 in March.
First of all, the qualifiers that could not be achieved at the World Championships last year, and the big throw in the final, the medals will be fully visible.
However, her mouth came back with a surprising answer.

Kitaguchi: "The Tokyo Olympics is a very important and special stage, but it is a passing point in my competitive life. However, because of this passing point, I want to make it an Olympic that I can achieve my goal later."

The keyword raised by the north exit is "Get a medal!
The ultimate goal is an Olympic gold medal.
The gaze of the north exit that says so is looking forward to the Paris Olympics, which will be 26 years old four years later.
Only Japan's track and field athlete, Koji Murofushi, a male hammer thrower, won the medal in the throwing event.

If you win the first medal at a national stadium with a full north exit, it will definitely be the "best waypoint".
(Interview: Sports News Department reporter Shuta Yamamoto)