Sarah Sjöström's competitor Rikako Ikee on her way back after the leukemia message

19-year-old Rikako Ikee is, despite his young age. Japanese record holder on both 50 meter freestyle and 100 meter butterfly. Already in 2016 she took three World Cup bronzes on the short course, and at the Asian Games 2018 she took six gold and two silver.

But in February 2019 came the shock message: Ikee had suffered from leukemia.

Now Sarah Sjöström competitor is on her way back. On Thursday, for the first time, she spoke to a group of journalists in connection with a training session in Tokyo. Then she revealed that she is aiming to make a comeback in early October.

- My goal right now is the Japanese university championships. I train hard with the belief that the championship will be lost, she said, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo.

Ikee, who was due to leave the hospital in February, is currently exercising in the swimming pool four times a week and estimates that she has now returned to about the same level as when she went to middle school.

- I feel that I am getting stronger with each passing day, she said, and also revealed that she has a long-term goal.

- I'm aiming for 2024 (Paris Olympics). I hope I can build a solid foundation to stand on because I no longer need to feel the pressure to be ready for the Tokyo Olympics.