Rikako Ikee said, "I think I'm in an environment I couldn't think of a year ago, but I feel that participating in the Tokyo Olympics is my destiny." I want to do my best. "
The Japanese national swimmers, whose competition will start on the 24th of this month, the day after the opening ceremony, are making final adjustments at the competition venues such as the Tokyo Aquatics Center in Koto Ward, Tokyo, and the National Training Center in Kita Ward.
On the 21st, before the opening, the players responded to an online interview, and among them, Ikee said, "I also did a preview of the venue and felt that it was finally starting while feeling the atmosphere." talked.
First of all, Ikee is planning to participate in the women's 400m relay where the qualifying is held on the first day of the competition. I want to break the record and stay in the final first. I want to achieve it together because the goal of the four people is to further shorten that time in the final. "
On top of that, about one year after returning to the competition in August last year, he said, "I think I'm in an environment I couldn't think of a year ago, but I feel that participating in the Tokyo Olympics is my destiny. I want to fulfill my mission and connect it to the results. I want to do my best to have a race where people who support me in front of the TV will be excited. "
In addition, Ryosuke Irie and Kosuke Hagino, who are the captains of the Japanese national team for swimming, participated in the official practice held at the Tokyo Aquatics Center in the morning.
Of these, Hagino took about an hour and a half to check the swim in the actual pool, and during the practice, he changed into a swimsuit for racing and measured the time from the start to 50 meters, making adjustments in anticipation of the actual performance. I was proceeding.
Shouma Sato "I want to go without being afraid"
20-year-old Shouma Sato, who is aiming to win a gold medal in the men's 200-meter breaststroke, responded to an online interview after practicing at the competition venue.
Sato set a new record in Japan at the Japan Championship in April and decided to be a representative, but after that he struggled to manage his weight and gained about 3 kg, and his feeling of kicking changed from before. There was a time when I felt impatient.
Coach Kenji Saijo, who coaches me, told me not to think too much and to take the plunge. "I'm still under pressure, but I'm prepared to feel it." I was a little nervous.
On top of that, "I want to take the plunge from the first half, so I don't want to be afraid. I think it's pretty tight after turning 150 meters, but I want to do it with the feeling that I can fall down the moment I finish everything." I was tightening my mind.