Sakiko Shimizu, the representative of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the former Japanese record holder for the women's 400-meter individual medley, will retire.

Shimizu is 29 years old from Tochigi prefecture.



He participated in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in the 400-meter individual medley, and was active in breaking the Japanese record at that time and achieving 8th place.



After that, the period of chasing the back of the current Japanese record holder Yui Ohashi continued, but with a sincere attitude to tackle the competition and a bright character of his own, he was a good adviser to other players in the Japanese national team. It played a big role such as becoming.



Positioning the Tokyo Olympics as "the culmination of competitive life," he has been practicing under coach Norimasa Hirai, who also studied under Ohashi from the end of last year, but this month's Japan Championship, which was the representative selection, is a favorite event. In the 400-meter individual medley, he missed the representative in 3rd place, which was less than 0.21 seconds in 2nd place, which was a condition for unofficial decision.



Shimizu told NHK, "I was able to make a decision unexpectedly because I had a feeling that I had done it. I was able to proceed as I wanted to do for the past year, and I was satisfied. I am happy to see the results alone. It may not be the end, but I want to do a job that conveys the importance of turning failure into confidence. "



Shimizu is aiming to become a leader in the future.

Called "Sacco-san" by junior swimmers and loved

Shimizu's 400-meter individual medley best time was 4: 34.66, which he marked at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.



Although it is the second fastest time in Japan's history, it is more than 3 seconds behind Ohashi's Japanese record, and he has been in second place for the past few years.



Coach Norimasa Hirai called out during the international tournament last fall when his grades were sluggish and he was suffering from poor performance.



"You may not be the number one person, but you really need it in terms of assistance."



Shimizu, who had been pushing himself to win this word, felt that he had opened his sights, saying, "I should do what I should do."



Shimizu was adored by junior swimmers as "Sacco-san" because of his sincere attitude toward the competition and his bright character.



Coach Hirai praised such a figure, saying, "I'm a very hard worker, and with the addition of her, the way the whole team works on the practice became positive. It was a really big existence."



On top of that, he told Shimizu, who aspires to become a leader, "I don't think he was in the limelight, and I think it wasn't all good scenes. I want you to do it. "



At this Japan Championship, Shimizu missed the national team in the women's 400-meter individual medley, the favorite event on the first day of the tournament.



The next day, Shimizu, who was at the stand, had a uchiwa with the names of his teammates in his hand.



Immediately after the race that I missed the national team, I went to buy materials and handmade all of them until late at night.



I want to help my friends as much as possible.



Until the end of my life as a player, I was impressed by how he spared no "assist".