Japan was 8th in the final of the women's 400-meter medley relay at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the women's 400-meter medley relay, four people swim 100 meters each in four swimming styles.



In Japan, the first swimmer who swims in the backstroke is Anna Konishi, the second swimmer who swims in the breaststroke is Kanako Watanabe, the third swimmer who swims in the butterfly stroke is Rikako Ikee, and the fourth swimmer who swims in freestyle is Chihiro Igarashi. I faced with the same members as the players in the qualifying.



In the race, Konishi, the first swimmer, was late for the first 50 meters, but in the second half he spurted to connect to Watanabe, the second swimmer, in 6th place, and then dropped to 8th place.



The third swimmer, Ikee, showed a big swim, but the ranking did not change, and he connected to the fourth swimmer, Igarashi, and finished in 8th place.



The time was 3 minutes 58 seconds 12.



The gold medal was Australia, the silver medal was the United States, and the bronze medal was Canada.

Discourse of four people

Anna Konishi, the first swimmer who swam in the backstroke, said, "I swam the last medley relay, thanking this member for being able to swim and fighting with the Japanese team with the support of many people." I did.



Kanako Watanabe, the second swimmer who swam in the breaststroke, said, "I was really happy to be able to swim the relay with the best members in the final of the Olympics."



Rikako Ikee, the third swimmer who swam the butterfly, said, "I've had a lot of things over the last five years, and once I was about to give up at the Tokyo Olympics, I'm very happy to be able to swim on the final stage as a relay member. I was talking.



Chihiro Igarashi, the fourth swimmer who swam in freestyle, said, "I'm happy just to be in the final, and at the end everyone had smiles and tears, and I was able to finish in a good shape."

Rikako Ikee's second big stage

The second big stage where I participated after overcoming illness. The 21-year-old, who is heading for the top of the world again, was full of joy to swim with all his might.



Three days ago, on the night of July 29, Ikee received good news.


It was decided that the butterfly will be entrusted to the women's 400-meter medley relay, which will be the third event in this tournament.



"I was itching to swim the butterfly stroke." The



expression I said happily filled me with the feeling that I was enjoying swimming with all my might. Ikee has a strong commitment to the game, saying, "The game is not just fun," but I have never forgotten my love for swimming.



Before I was diagnosed with leukemia, I once asked Ikee, who keeps updating his time, what he likes most about swimming.


After thinking a little, she said, "Of course, I'd be most happy if I could get my best and results."



"I think I like swimming."



Ikee, the youngest of three siblings, hated to lose from a young age and always competed with his siblings. Even if an adult got angry, he would say back, but he said that he became obedient only when he was told to "quit swimming."



The fight against the illness that everyone has lost their words has been overcome by vowing to "be sure to return to the pool." The relay that swims with friends in such a favorite swimming is "the event that can exert the most power" for Ikee.



In individual events, the relay can actively swim from the first half even when trying to save power in preparation for the second half spurt. In the qualifying on the 30th, he aggressively attacked from the first half and contributed to Japan's advance to the final by marking 57.50 seconds, which is faster than his personal best after returning, despite the time he took over.



"I want to work together to finish with a smile," said the last race of this tournament. The result was not convincing for Ikee, who hates to lose to 8th place, but the 21-year-old who enjoyed his favorite swimming with his friends on the big stage thought, "I want to be faster for three years." I have just finished the second Olympics.