One year later to the stage One year until the opening of the Tokyo Paralympics Players' thoughts August 24, 13:14

The Tokyo Paralympic Games will be held one year later from August 24th to September 5th, 2021 in 13 days with 539 events in 22 competitions, with a maximum of approximately 4,400 athletes from 182 countries and regions participating. It's a schedule.
It is the enthusiasm of the para-athletes who are trying to overcome the difficulties and challenge the competition next year.

Para-athlete Tomonori Sato "I can do my best because I have goals"

Para-athlete ace, Tomonori Sato (30) is aiming for the next year's Paralympic Games by imposing a big goal of winning a gold medal in the second wheelchair even if the Tokyo Paralympics is postponed.
At the age of 21, Sato, who has a disability in both legs and left arm due to illness, won the silver medal in the second 400-meter and 1500-meter wheelchairs at the first Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.
Since then, he has shortened the record and won the same second event at last year's world championship to nominated the Tokyo Paralympic National Team. Since he still holds the world record, he is said to be the “man closest to the gold medal”.
After the postponement of the tournament was decided, I continued my normal training, and while the stadium could not be used due to the declaration of emergency, I continued to run on the riverbed and perform strength training in the gym, thoroughly disinfecting. And last month, in the actual race that I participated in for the first time in 8 months, I set a good time close to my own world record at 400 meters.
Regarding the current state of mind, Sato said, "I think it's natural that the voice that threatens to hold it one year from now and the opinion that it is not the case where Olipara is held will be there unless Corona is over. Just as there are people who work without losing their goals, I have a goal of being a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, so I can do my best," he said.
Then, toward the Tokyo Paralympic Games, "I would like many people to see me running at the national stadium with an audience if I can, and I can imagine that I will reach my goal there. 400 meters We promise to set a new world record at 1500 meters and win a gold medal," he said.

Para Riku Maya Nakanishi "I Can't Advance While Lamenting Adversity"

Nakanishi Maya (35), a prosthetic leg jumper (35) who has been nominated as a representative of the Tokyo Paralympics for the long-distance long jump on para-athletes, continues training by turning adversity, which limits the practice environment, into power.
At the age of 21, Nakanishi, who lost his right leg due to an accident during work, continued to play on the ground with his artificial leg, but he won the World Championship for the first time last year, making a leap forward as a gold medal candidate for the Tokyo Paralympics.
However, in order to prevent the infection of elderly families due to the spread of the new coronavirus, I was forced to leave Oita, where I practiced for many years, and relocated to Osaka, where my coach is.
In addition, as the stadium was closed, the practice areas were nearby parks and parking lots. In such places, there are many obstacles such as steps when running due to unstable scaffolding, but Nakanishi saw it as an opportunity to improve the sense of balance on the left and right, which is particularly difficult to wear with artificial legs.
Nakanishi is still using the stadium, but he is still driving on the soft lawn and in the parking lot with steps to thoroughly train his sense of balance.
Nakanishi said, “I was thinking about how to continue practicing instead of being impatient if I couldn't practice normally. I can't move forward while admiring adversity, so I tried to do what I can do in my current environment. It's the most important thing to tackle, and I think that leads to a reversal from adversity."
Nakanishi, whose goal is to jump 6 meters closer to the Olympic athletes at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, said, “I would like to do my best to set a solid record and become the main player in the Paralympic Games. I want to make it a competition."
In addition, “The para-athletic tournament was almost canceled due to the influence of the new coronavirus, and athletes have lost their playing field. If people with disabilities can take a normal course in healthy people, Is more widespread, so I want to make a record for it to be recognized as a long jump player at the Tokyo Paralympic Games and make an impact."

Para Athletics Tomoya Ito "I don't have "with corona""

Para-athlete veteran Tomoya Ito (57) has severe restrictions on outdoor activities due to the particularly high risk of the new coronavirus, but he is working hard to improve his training methods for the Tokyo Paralympics next year. I'm out.
Ito, who has participated in the Paralympics three times in the land and wheelchair classes and has won two gold medals, is at risk of being infected with the new coronavirus due to an incurable disease that causes immunity abnormalities.
I have already been nominated as a representative of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, but to prevent infection, I was forced to stay at home without going out for almost half a year until May. Even after the declaration of emergency has been lifted, the use of stadiums and gyms is restricted only in the morning when there are few people to avoid the risk of infection.
Due to the recent situation of infection, I had to give up my participation at the Japan Championship next month, which will be the first race. Ito said, “I don't have a “with corona”. For me with basic illness, I can't coexist because I can't have a virus that directly leads to death, so I can't help but be timid as much as possible. It is a very difficult task to improve competitiveness in.”
Nevertheless, as a result of striving to improve my strength by continuing to wheelchair in my home, I am steadily strengthening toward the Tokyo Paralympic Games, such as recording a good time approaching my personal best in the practice at the stadium after restarting.
Ito said, “I want to do my best at home and practice the tension of the race with my imagination. It's harder for me to compete in the competition next year than to win a medal. However, it would be great if the Paralympic Games were held ahead of the fight against Corona and the hearts of the players who survived the Coronal War and the hearts of people around the world could be united."

Para Aki Chiaki Takada "Continue without giving up"

Chiaki Takada, a Para-land female long jump player, is in a difficult situation because it is blind and it is difficult to avoid the risk of infection due to contact, but we are continuing to strengthen it with the aim of winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year.
Takada, who lost his eyesight completely due to illness at the age of 18, was the representative of the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics last time, jumping 4 meters 69 cm to break his Japanese record in the visually impaired class of the World Championship last year and jumped to 4th place. Entered and was nominated as a representative of the Tokyo Paralympics.
However, the effects of the new coronavirus continue to be felt by touching with both hands even when preparing tools, and in practice, the coach runs next to him or touches his shoulder to instruct the direction of the approach, Touching things is unavoidable.
About the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which is facing a higher risk of infection than usual, Takada said, ``A year ago with a lot of anxiety about whether the Paralympic Games will be done next year or not, whether you can practice or not. But I have no feeling and I have no place to go."
Nevertheless, Takada is restarting his training in hopes that the Tokyo Paralympic Games will be held next year. The goal is to win a gold medal in a leap of more than 5 meters.
Takada said, "Even if there is something that can not be seen, smells, or is scary with the new coronavirus, it does not mean that the goal is gone. I want you to see the importance of continuing to do anything without giving up. ”

Para Athletics Marx Laem "I want to set a new world record and win the championship"

Marx Rehm of Germany, also known as the ``blade jumper'' and world record holder of the Para Athletics men's long jump prosthesis class, does not change the goal of achieving the Paralympic Games' third consecutive victory in a leap that exceeds the gold medalist record of the Tokyo Olympics I am making adjustments while participating in competitions.
Laem, a prosthetic leg jumper who lost his right foot at the age of 14, has won the Paralympics for the second time in a men's long jump, and his own world record of 8 meters 48 cm exceeds the record marked by the gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. I will.
Laem said that the Tokyo Paralympic Games was postponed for one year, "I was sad because it was in good condition. I was prepared to do the best so I am sorry that I do not have the opportunity to show it."
Now that he is practicing with a focus on strengthening the speed of his run-up, he won the 8m 32cm record at the Para Athletics competition held in Germany on 21st of this month, and is ready for the next year. Have a good start.
Laem said that he wants to win the third consecutive championship at the Tokyo Paralympic Games next year, and he is enthusiastic, saying "I want to set my own world record and win the championship, and I want to jump beyond the record of the athlete who won the Tokyo Olympics." I was there.
On top of that, he said about the significance of hosting the Games, "I think the Olympics and Paralympics can work together. It would be great if we could cooperate with each other in a pandemic."

Para-Swimming Keiichi Kimura "Indicating Human Potential"

Keiichi Kimura (29), who was blind and blind, was the ace of para-swimming aiming to win the first gold medal for the first time to participate in the Tokyo tournament, which will be the Paralympic Games for the fourth time in a row. It may be a chance for people to stand up from a corona-damaged and exhausted society," he emphasizes.
Kimura, a para-swimmer who lost his eyesight due to illness at the age of two, has participated in the Paralympics for three consecutive games since the 2008 Beijing Games, and has won six silver and bronze medals so far. At last year's World Championship, he won the class with the 100m butterfly with the heaviest visual impairment, and has been nominated as the representative of the Tokyo tournament for the fourth time in a row.
Kimura has been training all over the United States since 2018, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus, it became difficult to live in the United States, and he is currently continuing to strengthen it in Japan.
Regarding the Paralympic Games approaching a year later, Kimura stated that he was aiming for the only gold medal that he has never been able to win, but he said, ``I thought there was a Paralympic Games one year after this year last year, but now it's really next year. I am training while thinking that I can do it.I can not think of a year ago as a milestone, I think that it is just a daily accumulation,'' he said, looking into the complicated feelings of the current situation that can not be predicted. It was
After that, "The Paralympics show the possibility of human beings, and by seeing it, I think that it will help people to rise from a society exhausted by the new coronavirus," one year later The significance of is emphasized.

Para-swimming Takayuki Suzuki "I want to fully enjoy my country competition"

Takayuki Suzuki (33), a para-swimmer who has participated in the Paralympic Games for four consecutive games and has won five medals including gold, seems to be a veteran, and he is aiming to win gold medals at the Tokyo Games by continuing to strengthen without hesitation. ..
Suzuki, who has no legs and right hand since he was born, and has a disability in his left finger, has participated in the Paralympic Games for the fourth consecutive time since the Athens Games, and has won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Although it has been strengthening since 7 years ago based in the UK, due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, I was forced to return to Japan in March, and it was difficult to practice in the pool for about two months in Japan. I say.
Regarding this, Suzuki said, "With my own disabilities, I can not do aerobic exercise other than swimming and training on land is not sufficient, so I have to restore cardiopulmonary function," he said, calmly analyzing his current situation. I will.
Suzuki, who went to a graduate school in England and returned to Japan on the 19th of this month (August), is currently working on his master's thesis, so he has to practice less frequently.
Against this backdrop, in preparation for the Tokyo Games, which aims to win a gold medal, he said, “It's impossible to keep trying for a year, and the situation will not change even if I hurry. I think it will probably be the last Paralympic Games as a player, It's my first experience at the tournament, so I want to fully enjoy it.I think that the appearance of the players enjoying and focusing on the competition will affect the people who see it and I think that it will be enjoyed, so I will prepare well I was talking."

Canoe Setachi Monica "The mission is to give emotion and courage"

Monica Setachi Monica (22), a canoe who has been nominated as a representative of the Tokyo Paralympic Games, postponed the tournament and was sometimes depressed, but is currently continuing to strengthen it with the aim of winning a gold medal in his hometown of Tokyo.
Setouchi from Koto-ku, Tokyo, was diagnosed with “trunk dysfunction” because he was unable to move the muscles around his hips when he was a high school student and fell down and hit his head. ..
Nevertheless, he continued his canoeing, and made his first appearance at the last Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games. After that, with continued support from the local Koto Ward, etc., the team continued to strengthen and entered fifth place at the World Championship last year, and was nominated as a representative of the Tokyo Paralympics.
During the winter, I continued to train at Ogimi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, on the same sea as the production, but due to the spread of the new coronavirus it became difficult to move to other places and I was forced to extend my stay. ..
After the decision was made to postpone the Paralympic Games held locally, my heart was sometimes depressed, so I asked about my feelings at that time, ``where the practice I am doing is connected to the environment where I can not set goals It was tough," he recalled.
However, during that time, he continued to strengthen his body by performing weight training and thoroughly training the upper body muscles. Recently, the smile of the trademark also returned to Setate, with a new seat on the tournament restarted earlier this month, and a good record that shortened the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic record by nearly 10 seconds at 200 meters. It's going well.
For the next year's Tokyo Paralympics, Setate said, "I'm worried whether it can be held, but I have no choice but to hope that the virus will converge. My mission is to give excitement and courage when I can enjoy sports. I'm thinking, so at that time I want to win a gold medal at the local Tokyo tournament."

Wheelchair Rugby Tonobu Ike "Motivation that Gold Medal Does Not Shake"

Japan's captain of the wheelchair rugby, Tonobu Ike (40), positively acknowledged that the tournament was postponed, not canceled, and continues to strengthen for the first gold medal.
At the age of 19, he had his left leg amputated in a traffic accident, and his left arm was also impaired. With his accurate long pass, he was the captain of Japan's national team and contributed to the first victory of the 2018 World Championship.
Japan is expected to win the first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, but it is decided that the tournament will be postponed for one year due to the influence of the new coronavirus. “I thought that it would be impossible to hold the Paralympic Games at that time. I felt like I would lose the value of being a player, so I was postponed and saved.”
During the period when the Japanese national team refrained from activities, he was training his strength at home and wheeling down the slopes of the park to train his body.
Ike said, “I think if the Paralympic Games will be held next year, it will be held in anxiety. At the tournament, I would like to show you something wonderful to dispel that anxiety. To be recognized as the best in the world Taking gold medals at the Paralympic Games is my unwavering motivation."

Wheelchair rugby Daisuke Ikezaki "I can still grow"

Daisuke Ikezaki, the ace of Japan's national wheelchair rugby team, is introducing new training for the first gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, and is working to strengthen its speed and power.
At the age of six, Ikezaki, who developed a progressive intractable illness with weakened limbs, contributed to his first victory as an ace at the 2018 World Championship with his skillful wheelchair handling and speed-based breakthrough power. Was selected as the best player.
At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, aiming to win the first gold medal, the fact that the tournament was postponed for one year due to the influence of the new coronavirus "I positively think that I can prepare carefully to win the gold medal." ..
Australia, which ranks first in the world, is expected to be the biggest rival for the gold medal, and Japan lost at the international competition last year. Ikezaki cannot perform training using heavy equipment because his sickness is weak because he is ill, but he is trying to enhance his speed and power to win Australia at the Tokyo tournament, and from March he added ``pressurization training''. Was introduced.
"Pressure training" means that you can easily get tired of your muscles by compressing blood vessels in your arms and legs, and you can strengthen your muscles even with a light load. It is said that the weight training of the upper arm increased by 5 cm as a result of performing pressure training that incorporates various menus such as keeping wheelchairs at full power three times a week for two hours.
42-year-old Ikezaki said, "I'm in the best physical condition now and I'm in a good condition compared to my twenties and thirties. I feel that I can still grow, so I think I can use this year effectively. I want to improve myself. I want to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Games and become a true champion."