Rikako Ikee would become one of Japan's biggest stars and gold medalist in the Olympics in his hometown.

Already in Rio 2016, the Japanese swimming talent finished fifth in the Olympic final of the 100 meter butterfly that Sarah Sjöström won.

After sweeping home six golds in the Asian Games 2018 and in the autumn defeated Sjöström in the World Cup, it became Rikako Ikee fever in Japan.

But then came the killing blow.

"I still can not understand it and am in a confused state," the Japanese wrote on Twitter when she announced that she had suffered from acute lymphocytic leukemia.

"Just wanted to die"

The gold rush in Tokyo turned into a fight for life.

- When everything was at its worst, I just wanted to die.

I felt it would be better than going through the pain I was having.

Now afterwards I regret my thoughts.

Not for a second that it was good to get sick, but I have learned so much from it.

I know where I stand, how to live my life.

This will be a major turning point for the rest of my life, she said in an interview with TV Asahi after leaving the hospital after ten months of treatment.

Then we wrote December 2019 in the almanac.

In October last year, she made a comeback in a smaller competition and despite the pandemic shooting at the Tokyo Games for a year, it was further ahead she watched:

- My goal is Paris 2024, she explained her new Olympic focus.

But it has gone faster than that.

At the Japanese Olympics in April, Rikako Ikee sensationally won four disciplines.

She did not manage to qualify for any individual start - but instead qualified for the team races of 4x100 meters freestyle and 4x100 meters medley.

Special relationship

That she's even in Tokyo has taken everyone by surprise.

- It will be so fun to meet her at the Olympics, says Sarah Sjöström who has a special relationship with the Japanese.

Even before the illness, they trained together at Sjöström's training base in Turkey, during the WC in South Korea 2019, the Swede was behind a heartwarming greeting to Rikako Ikee which the medalists in the 100 meter butterfly performed, written on the hands "Never give up, Rikako Ikee" and with hearts.

Sjöström received it in return on social media in the same way from the Japanese after the arm fracture in February.

- I was really touched by it, she has been a great inspiration for me.

When you see that she can come back after such an illness, an elbow injury feels like nothing, says Sjöström.

The Olympic duel in the 100 meter butterfly may be postponed until 2024, but Rikako Ikee and Sarah Sjöström will compete against each other in team competition.

- I will do my best to show the world that Rikako Ikee is back.

I long to see how much I can lower my times.

I want to swim races where I dominate, because I know I can swim faster, she said according to the news agency Kyodo in connection with an Olympic ceremony with the Japanese national team in April.

CLIP: Ready for the Olympics - two years after the cancer announcement (April 4, 2021)

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Rikako Ikee was supported by Sarah Sjöström, among others, when she was diagnosed with cancer.

Photo: Bildbyrån