The final day of the Japan Championships in Athletics.
Hitomi Niiya, who finished second in the women's 5000 meters and was nominated as the second representative after 10,000 meters, thought about declining the representative for the Tokyo Olympics, which is divided into pros and cons, but once again It was revealed that he had decided to participate.
"I want to run as a representative of Japan"
In the race on the 27th, Shintani managed to catch up with Ririka Hironaka, who was leading the race, but after 3000 meters, he was separated by Hironaka.
Then, he was overtaken by Nozomi Tanaka, who was running behind at around 3600 meters, and retreated to 4th place, but he quickly overtook and finally finished in 2nd place.
Tanaka participated in the 1500 meters two days before the tournament, and on the 27th, he participated in the 5000 meters about 30 minutes after the race that finished third at 800 meters.
Shintani said, "The moment Tanaka, who was more than 10 years old, came out in front of me, I ran 800 meters before the race, but I ran only one 5000 meters and I was tired. I felt it was a shame to run in the race. It was hard, but thanks to her, I was able to stick to it. "
Also, regarding the Tokyo Olympics, where the pros and cons of holding the Olympic Games are divided, before the Games, he said, "Every time the word" Tokyo Olympics "resonated in my head, I honestly thought I would decline."
However, the person in charge of the company I belong to said, "Olympic games are not everything. We will do our best to support the answer that Mr. Shintani made the final decision, and we want to be a company that protects one person, Hitomi Niiya." In the wake of that, he explained the circumstances, "I thought that if I declined, the wind direction for athletes aiming for other Olympics would become stronger, so I decided to participate in the race."
Shintani stated his frank thoughts toward the Olympics, saying, "I want to accept all the voices and feelings of not only those who support me, but also those who do not, and run as a representative of Japan."