Swimming race Rio Shirai "Why did this happen ..."

The Japanese championship for swimming that doubles as the representative selection for the Tokyo Olympics.

Rio Shirai, who finished fifth in the women's 100-meter freestyle final and missed the offer, was unable to get out of the pool during the on-site interview with the offer after the race.

In the interview after the race, I couldn't stop crying, and I was full of regret, "Why did this happen?"

“This is not the end”

After entering university, Shirai improved his strength under the guidance of coach Norimasa Hirai, and won the first Japanese championship in the 200m freestyle.

At that time, he was the first Japanese player to advance to the final at the World Championship, and he was expected to play an even more active role.

However, as the Tokyo Olympics approached, I began to feel pressure, and from the end of last year I lost sight of my swim and could not get rid of my anxiety even after practicing.

In this tournament, I missed the appointment of the representative even in the women's 200m freestyle, and in consultation with coach Hirai Norimasa who receives guidance, I abstained from the women's 200m backstroke race on the 7th and started to represent in this event. But it didn't arrive.

"Before the start, I thought that it wasn't good this time, or that I didn't have enough practice, and that kind of thought came across my head," said Shirai, who dropped his shoulders.

For the future, he said, "My swimming life is still long, and this is not the end. I want to make use of my regrettable experience and connect it to the spring."