58-year-old challenge archery Hiroshi Yamamoto November 4, 14:08
The All Japan Archery Championship held in Aichi Prefecture on October 31st.
Hiroshi Yamamoto, an Olympic medalist who celebrated his 58th birthday on that day, sank to 72nd place out of 90 people and was eliminated from the qualifying.
After the match, Yamamoto regretted that he wouldn't have such a worst birthday.
The middle-aged star, who has been leading the archery world by participating in the Olympics five times and winning medals in two tournaments, continues to draw a bow despite suffering.
Rainy day qualifying defeat
A qualifying round for the All Japan Championship, which shoots 72 arrows in all.
Yamamoto pulled out the last arrow that was stabbed with a regrettable expression.
And with a bitter smile, he said:
"Oh, I missed the qualifying for the first time. I have to advance to the final."
The result is 72nd out of 90 people.
It was not far from the advance line of the final tournament held by the top 32 players.
I first participated in the All Japan Championship more than 40 years ago when I was in the third year of junior high school.
It is said to be the first qualifying defeat since then.
Ironically, Yamamoto said that his first qualifying loss coincided with his 58th birthday.
(Hiroshi Yamamoto)
"There will be no such a worst birthday. It was a day I will never forget that the most painful result came on my birthday." I was
desperately trying to look forward, but I regret it. I can't hide it.
There was no momentum when he won the silver medal at the Athens Olympics at the age of 41 and was noticed as a "middle-aged star".
Surgical decision fighting injury
The cause of the downturn was clear.
Actually, in August, I had an operation to remove a part of the rib to remove numbness in my arms and fingers.
Archery that repeats the same action over and over again.
Due to the load on the same area, the arms and fingers became numb enough to wake up in the middle of the night.
The doctor suggested a cure with long-term rehabilitation, but I decided to have surgery so that I could return as soon as possible, saying "to return to the top stage."
The operation was successful.
The numbness is gone, but the damage remains in unexpected places.
During the period before and after the surgery, when I didn't touch the bow, my muscle strength was greatly reduced.
(Hiroshi Yamamoto)
"When I resumed practice after surgery, my muscles were completely lost. I heard that elderly people suddenly weaken when they are bedridden, but I am also an elderly person. I wondered if I was in the realm of
. ”The All Japan Championship was held about two months after the surgery.
It couldn't be returned to perfection in a short period of time, and the result was a disastrous defeat.
58 years old Why continue the competition
After the match, Yamamoto expressed his regret, saying, "It's been a while since I felt so regrettable."
I also felt that the word "retired" was approaching the devastating defeat of my tattered body.
However, Yamamoto did not break his stance of sticking to active duty.
I talked about the reason.
(Hiroshi Yamamoto)
"I don't like this situation, and some players stop when it's good, but I'm still doing it even if I'm shattered. My body is getting tight, but my generation is supporting me. There are people who say, "I got the courage to see my article." I want to do my best without retiring while it affects those people. "
Yamamoto responded to the interview while sweating in the clear autumn sky.
The challenge of the 58-year-old, who strongly declared "I will do my best" when I left, felt like it was still here.