Rikako Ikee, a swimmer, participated in the women's 50-meter freestyle at the "Japan Open" where the top athletes in Japan participated, and after returning to the competition in the final, marked the fastest 24.91 and finished second. It was.
It is a question and answer in the interview after the race of Rikako Ikee.
(Question)
Impressions after the race.
(Ikee)
I didn't think I could pass the qualifying first, and I thought it would be good if the goal of this match itself was about 25 seconds 3, so I was able to significantly update from the qualifying and the final. It was great that I was able to raise it even more.
(Question)
I was in 4th place recently, but today I was in the top of the qualifying.
(Ikee)
It was unprecedented that the three members on the podium in a very high-level match were in the 24-second range, so it was the second place in a very high-level battle. It was a race where I could really feel my growth.
(Question)
What was good
about the
race?
(Ikee)
I was able to calmly race, and at the end I was a little tired and clogged up, but anyway, I got a medal this time, and it was a very good start and a good end.
(Question)
There will be another race in two weeks, but what are your plans for the future?
(Ikee)
I'm planning to participate in the butterfly for the first time in two weeks, so I'm not confident, but I think I should swim as hard as I can.
(Question)
What about the representative selection meeting in April?
(Ikee)
Nothing has been decided yet.
(Question)
What was your impression of swimming for the first time at the Olympic venue?
(Ikee)
(Water depth) It's a 3 meter pool, so it was a little different from Tatsumi (Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center), but it was a very easy pool to swim in, and I think that the record is my best in this way. So I had a good experience and had the next race.
(Question) It
was shortened by 0 seconds 7 from last October, but what is your evaluation?
(Ikee) I was
still swimming at the time when I was practicing, "I'm sure there will be a record," so I didn't expect the 24-second range to come out, but next time I'm aiming for even higher.
This time it was No. 2 and it always ended halfway, so next time I want to race so that I can decide quickly.
(Question)
How far is it from the Tokyo Olympics?
(Ikee)
I'm not so conscious of the Tokyo Olympics, so I feel like I was able to do a good race.
(Question)
After the Kosuke Kitajima Cup, he said he wanted to stick to the game. What is your evaluation today?
(Ikee) I
'm glad I was able to pass first in the qualifying, but it was second.
Although it was a good result, it will not change to No. 2 in the end, so I would like to aim for No. 1 next time.
(Question) It has
been two years since the discovery of leukemia in February.
How do you take this record?
(Ikee) It's
been a year since I started swimming, and I'm very happy to be back in the world of comma seconds from my personal best, and on the contrary, my record so far is better. I'm swimming now with the record that I think it was, so I'd like to set aside the past and try to go even higher in the future.
(Question)
After the qualifying, I saw some tears, but what are your feelings?
(Ikee)
First of all, I was very happy that I was able to pass the most, and because the goal was 25 seconds 3, I was very happy that I was able to update the time significantly to 25 seconds 0, and it was also 3 years. I was most happy to say that I was able to return to this stage for the first time.
(Question)
Is it the impression that the reaction of the start is getting better little by little?
(Ikee) When
I went to the training camp, I began to attach particular importance to dietary management, and now I just focus on returning my weight, and eat as much as I can, or refill my weight. The increase has led to a significant increase in the transit time of 15 meters.
(Question)
Did you see Rika Oomoto next door at the end?
(Ikee)
I could see it in the last 10 meters, but the moment I saw it, my body got stiff, and I got the impression that I was a little impatient, or that I got stuck.
It was a race where I could see my weaknesses and the strengths of the opponents, so that will lead to the next.
(Question)
What was the reason for the significant reduction in time compared to August last year when you first returned?
(Ikee)
It's the weight that can be said to be this.
Next is endurance.
Even in the 50-meter sprint, some endurance is needed, which led to growth in the second half of today's race.
(Question)
How much has your weight returned?
(Ikee) At one
point, I lost a little 15 kg from my original weight, but I'm back to about 5 kg.
(Question)
Why do you value weight?
(Ikee)
(From the start) 15 meters away, the cause is still weight.
The heavier one moves forward the moment he jumps in.
I thought I was second to none in swimming.
(Question)
What are your plans for the Japan Championships in April, which will be the Tokyo Olympics representative selection?
(Ikee)
I haven't thought about anything yet.
It depends on the situation in the future, and I have to deal with my physical condition well, so I can't say that I'm aiming for the Tokyo Olympics without overdoing it, so I wonder if I should grow little by little. thinking.
I want to do it without rushing.
(Question)
How do you view your chances of participating in the Tokyo Olympics based on this result?
(Ikee)
I don't think I can win in the world even if I race in Japan, so I'm organizing it in my own way.
When I start to produce results that can compete in the world, I think about it at that time, but that is not the stage yet.
(Question)
How nervous is the race?
(Ikee) As
expected, after four races, I knew how to swim in the race, and this time I was able to have a very high level of race, so I feel confident.
Especially for the 50m freestyle, there are many swimming events, so the goal is to regain the throne from this event, so I would like to climb up little by little.