In the 23 days and three months before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, the new coronavirus has forced athletes to make unprecedentedly difficult adjustments.
Judo players who are expected to win a large number of medals have experienced a two-week isolation life after returning from an international competition overseas, and continue training while feeling anxious about their physical strength.
As the infection of the new coronavirus continues to spread, athletes planning to participate in the Tokyo tournament need a waiting period of two weeks when they return from overseas after participating in international tournaments, etc. In principle, this period is the tournament. And I can no longer participate in the practice.
Waiting for 2 weeks after returning to Judo I couldn't practice satisfactorily
In judo, where mass production of medals is expected at the Olympic Games, 13 out of 14 nominated athletes participated in the international competition held from January to this month.
After returning to Japan, all the athletes waited for two weeks at home or at facilities in Tokyo, and spent a period in which they could not practice judo satisfactorily except for limited menus such as strength training in their own room.
Some of the injured unofficial athletes have forgotten to participate in future international competitions or overseas training camps because they cannot attend rehabilitation during the waiting period.
Miku Tashiro, a 63 kg women who has been nominated to represent the second consecutive Olympic Games, spent a two-week waiting period at home after winning the international tournament in Uzbekistan last month.
Tashiro said, "I've lost a little physical strength and I've been worried about injury." After looking back on this period, he said, "Is the world really going to be held in a difficult situation?" It is said, "Will it be held?", But I can only prepare for the coming day. I believe that it will be held and I want to prepare well. "
On the other hand, Tsukasa Yoshida, who has been appointed as the first Olympic representative in the women's 57 kg class, has no plans to participate in international competitions or overseas training camps after winning the international competition in January.
Yoshida said, "In this situation, I want to fight without regrets so that I can get out of it."
Judo has different policies for strengthening men and women in the three months leading up to the Olympics.
The boys are considering attending an international training camp in Spain in the middle of next month with the aim of securing opportunities to compete with overseas players.
Director Kosei Inoue, the Japanese national team coach, said, "It is information that the International Judo Federation has also created a strict protocol and is assuming a training camp in a harsh environment. I would like to proceed after confirming the situation in the world to the last minute." I'm talking.
On the other hand, girls will not participate in the international training camp because of the risk of infection due to participation in the training camp and the inability to practice sufficiently during the waiting period after returning to Japan.
Katsuyuki Masuchi, the coach of the Japan Women's National Team, said, "I would like to hold a training camp individually in Japan and prepare for the Olympics."
In the voice of concern about holding taekwondo
The athletes who have been appointed as representatives of the Tokyo Olympics and Taekwondo are aiming to play an active role as one athlete, while understanding that there are concerns about the holding itself due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. We are continuing to make adjustments.
Since February last year, the four male and female athletes who have been appointed as representatives have been practicing mainly at their respective affiliations to prevent infection, but from last month they have been training camps at the National Training Center in Kita-ku, Tokyo. We are trying to strengthen it by doing things such as.
Under these circumstances, regarding the fact that it was three months before the opening, Miyu Yamada, a 49-kilometer female player, said, "There are many opinions such as the cancellation of the tournament itself due to the prospect of an emergency declaration. I think it's normal because the lives of myself and my family are very important. "
On top of that, for the first Olympics, "I've been practicing for the Tokyo Games, so I have a strong desire as an athlete to hold it. I just imagine standing on the podium and do what I do every day. I think, "he swore to play an active role.
Mayu Hamada, a 57-kilometer female athlete who has won the world championships and will participate in the Olympics for the third time in a row, said, "Time is approaching while we can't do anything about it. I think it's most important to get ready. "
On the other hand, for boys, Sergio Suzuki and Ricardo, who will participate for the first time, will participate as brothers.
There was a time when the dojo could not be used due to the spread of the infection, so the two have been practicing by sparring at home.
Sergio Suzuki, a 58-kilometer class player, said, "While various people are having a hard time due to the influence of Corona, it is difficult to say" Please hold the Olympics ", but it was canceled. As long as I haven't done so, I have to prepare for the Games as a player. "
Ricardo, a 68-kilometer class player, said to himself, "Last year, I was postponed, and I have a feeling that I'm going to play the Olympics, but if I lose my feelings there, it's no good."
"Agree as an athlete and disagree as a nation."
Hitomi Niiya, who was appointed as the Olympic representative at 10,000 meters on land in December last year, said in an interview with NHK in January that it was half a year before the opening, based on the severe public opinion that can be said to be a "headwind" for the Tokyo tournament I agree with him, but I feel that he is against it as a nation. "
In the middle of this month, when I asked him about his feelings in an interview again three months before the opening, he said, "To be honest, it hasn't changed. It should be understood that it is the people who create a place where athletes can play an active role. If I don't get that understanding, I think I don't have to hold a tournament. "
Based on his career as a company employee after retiring once, Shintani said, "I think I'm really happy because I'm getting paid for what I'm good at. What is needed is not just the result, but the result. It's about how close you can fight to the people. I think that being proud of the starting line as a representative of the people is the true representative of Japan. "
Then, when I asked, "If you are proud of the tournament, what do you want to look for on the stage?" "You may be laughed at, but it's a gold medal. I think that regular training will lead to results in order to win the gold medal. I want to be thorough in that, "he emphasized the idea of challenging high goals.