At the Tokyo Olympics, the women's 76 kg wrestling class held on the 2nd, Japan's Hiroe Minagawa lost in the bronze medal in the 3rd place playoff and did not win the bronze medal.

The first Olympics, which he challenged at the age of 33, did not reach the podium, but he believed in his "potential" and fought in a tough heavyweight class.

"Confidence" that I showed just before

Hiroe Minagawa is 1 meter and 62 centimeters tall.

Wrestling, a pretty petite player in this class of women's 76 kg.



"I'm small, but I don't think it's that disadvantageous. There must be some areas where it's difficult for the other party to do it."



Just before the Olympics.

Minagawa said quietly but clearly.



It is said that "tall" and "long limbs" are advantageous in wrestling.

Especially in the heavyweight class, the size of the physique is directly linked to the power, and I have seen many games in which the Japanese are overwhelmed by powerful overseas players.



That's why I could see the certain confidence in the words of the veteran who fought with a small body.

The "high wall" I was making

It was Kyoko Hamaguchi, a star player, who has long been a leader in the heavyweight class in Japan.

He won the All Japan Championship 16 times and the World Championship 5 times.

For Minagawa, who is nine years younger, he makes me think that I must tackle wrestling seriously like that, and I have never been able to win.



Even Mr. Hamaguchi did not reach the Olympic gold medal.

Minagawa actually thought about retiring at the age of 29 after the Rio de Janeiro Games, which he missed.



"I've decided my limits here. I couldn't imagine doing it over the age of 30."



But it was the first time I won the bronze medal at the 2017 World Championship, which I intended to do last. It will be an opportunity to break the wall you made in your heart.



"I wonder if there is such a difference. The people around me were very pleased and I was wondering if I should do my best."

To fill the power difference

It was "power" that Minagawa, who decided to do so, felt the most difference from the world.



"I was overwhelmed by the power that I was surprised at," he said, which he had never experienced in Japan.

Although he had a good reputation for kumite and tackle techniques, he was pushed by the power and could not make full use of the techniques.



Therefore, I asked a trainer from the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences to thoroughly improve my strength.

The results gradually came out, and I couldn't see any scenes where I could lose power to overseas players.



And this increase in strength leads to the survival of our own technology.

It is less likely that you will lose in a kumite battle, and you will be able to score points in a pattern where you slowly break down your opponent and enter the tackle from there.



In the world championship, following 2017, 2018 will be a bronze medal.

Furthermore, in 2019, after winning the silver medal and over 30 years old, we have shown steady growth step by step, and we have been looking at the gold medal as a realistic goal.

The result of the effort and the high wall

The Tokyo Olympics welcomed "I want to show everything that has come".

In the first and second rounds, the strength of Minagawa was demonstrated.



Break a big opponent with a kumite and tackle one leg on the side.

What especially shined was the sumo wrestling that pushed up the opponent's arm from below.



Minagawa had a time when he went to the sumo club of Nihon University to learn techniques to take advantage of kumite, and what he learned there was put to good use.

It really showed its true character in the attack method that "it can be done because it is small".



However, in the semi-finals, he was separated by a German player and lost because he couldn't make a good position at all.

In the bronze medal match, he was defeated by a sharp tackle from a Chinese player and lost the fall in 2 minutes and 30 seconds.



Not only Minagawa, but the players around the world are also growing.

It was a complete defeat that made me realize it.

“I have nothing left to do”

After the match, Minagawa was so unobtrusive and weeping that he had never seen it before.

I asked if I could put out all the efforts I had accumulated so far.



"It wasn't what I had imagined, but ..."



Minagawa said, "I think I was able to put out everything. I practiced hard every day for the Olympics, and I really left behind. There was nothing. "



It must have been defeated and regrettable, but he seemed to accept the efforts and results he had accumulated.

Regarding the future, "I don't know what it will look like, but I want to return to the Olympic stage again."



Minagawa continued to grow by challenging heavy walls with a small body.

The journey should leave something important to the young players who follow.