Japan, the water polo men at the Tokyo Olympics, defeated South Africa in the final round of the qualifying league on the 2nd, winning for the first time in 37 years since the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
The tears of the veteran, who had decided to retire at the end of this match, tell the story of the steep path he has taken to win the Olympics.
Yusuke Shimizu, the oldest player on the team, is 32 years old. Since becoming a representative at the age of 20, he has been fighting on the world stage for more than 10 years, and became the driving force behind his participation in the Olympic Games for the first time in 32 years as a captain at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
However, center forward Shimizu, who is at the center of the attack at the Rio de Janeiro tournament, was unable to shoot against a strong overseas opponent and scored only one goal.
The team also lost all five races.
It was the first big stage that was bittersweet, but Shimizu changed his mind toward his next goal, saying, "I have a new desire to win a medal." After returning to Japan, he was transferred to a club team in Hungary, a water polo powerhouse, and was faced with great challenges as he worked hard to improve his level.
In the fall of 2017, he ruptured the left shoulder muscle of his dominant arm at a domestic tournament where he returned to Japan. It was a year of complete healing, and even the life of the athlete was injured.
"For me, my left shoulder was a treasure. I broke something I had to cherish and lost myself. I may not be able to return anymore."
I started rehabilitation after surgery, but I retired without even living my daily life. I also thought about it.
Even so, with the support of those around me, I decided to stand on the stage of the Tokyo Games again, thinking only that I would be able to participate in the best condition, saying, "I will give back to showing my success in the Olympics," and I have continued to rehabilitate. I did.
Shimizu, who was training his shoulders while clenching his teeth when he accompanied him to rehabilitation in the middle of March last year, ahead of the tournament, said that he was able to do his best.
However, the tournament was postponed for a year, and Shimizu was shocked that he couldn't recover immediately, saying, "My head is white and I can't think positively."
Even so, I was inspired by the fact that I wanted to play to cheer up the surroundings because of the corona.
It's been almost half a year before the tournament, and in January, I transferred to a team from the powerful country Serbia, and now I've been thinking about and implementing the maximum preparation I can do.
And the culmination of the tournament.
Shimizu, who grew up as a young player and had a lot of time to go around, hit his body many times against a strong opponent who was better than his physique in front of the goal, which led to a shot by his teammates.
In addition, Shimizu created a favorable situation for Japan by confronting the towering walls of foreigners, inviting fouls and forcing the opponent to leave.
Its appearance was different from what it used to be as a scorer, but it was a true ace to pull the team.
I didn't have many chances to participate in this tournament, but in the match on the 2nd, my teammates collected the ball from Shimizu and scored 3 points from the left arm that I walked with, as if to make the last Hanamichi. rice field.
Five years until the Tokyo tournament that "it was hell".
The veteran, who climbed up the thorny road many times and kept looking forward desperately, grabbed the long-sought victory in the match on the 2nd, which was decided to be the last match of the national team, and put the cap on.
Shimizu looked back on the "Olympic participation" that he dreamed of as a junior high school student, and his competitive life that he achieved twice.
"90% of the time was painful and painful, but it was a happy athlete's life. I want to teach myself that I was aiming for the Olympics," It's not a mistake, "and I want to praise myself."