Yukako Kawai, who became a gold medalist at the Tokyo Olympics and wrestling women's 62 kg class, once said, "It was unrealistic to be able to participate in the Olympics."
say.
I continued to step by step to catch up with my great sister, and everyone showed amazing growth on the stage of the Olympics.
Surprised strength like another person
Was Yukako Kawai so strong?
I couldn't help but be surprised to see how he won from the first match on the stage of his first appearance at the Olympic Games.
Yukako's recent match was the Asian Wrestling Championships last February.
Due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, the tournament in Japan and overseas was canceled or postponed, so I directly saw the World Championship in September 2019.
Although I won the bronze medal and decided to represent the Olympics, I felt that there was still a difference from the top of the world.
It's been almost two years since then.
Yukako Kawai had a sense of stability like a different person.
Stable stance, overwhelming kumite battle, iron wall defense, tackle to decide at this point.
I thought while watching the battle that even had a personality.
"It's like my sister Risako Kawai."
"I want to catch up with my sister"
Yukako Kawai has been behind her sister for a long time.
He also recalls, "I was 3rd or 4th in Japan and the Olympics were unrealistic."
However, when Risako Kawai won the gold medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, her consciousness changed significantly.
"I felt like I had gone so far away, and I felt lonely, but I also wanted to catch up someday."
Gold medal with sisters
Catch up with my sister and get a gold medal with my sister.
From the time I had this goal, Yukako's attitude toward wrestling changed.
Every day, I always stayed after the whole practice and practiced, and Risako was surprised at the tenacity.
My sister Risako
"I'm not good at keeping things that are decided every day, but I don't miss Yukako. Every day, I decided to do this every day, so I think it's really amazing."
The strength is that it has no characteristics?
Yukako will start to make achievements little by little from there.
In 2017, he won the All Japan Championship for the first time.
In the world championships, he went up to the podium in succession with a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze medal in 2019, and was appointed as the representative of the Tokyo Olympics.
There is no outstanding skill.
However, tackles, kumite, defense, and ground fighting are all well-balanced at a high level.
My sister Risako has an interesting view of her sister's wrestling.
Risako
"The strength is that there is no feature. The opponent may not be able to narrow down what Yukako will do."
One year due to a large postponement
Still, I wasn't able to stand at the top of the world.
At the adult world championships, I was overwhelmed by the power of Kyrgyz player Aisuluu Tynibekova and showed the difference in defeat.
However, it was the past year that I was able to tackle that issue carefully.
With the postponement of the Olympics, there was a period of no matches, so I took advantage of this time to focus on strength training.
I wasn't able to do direct interviews because of the corona, but I felt that my body became thicker every time I met Yukako.
One of the coaches was astonishing as it was.
Coach:
"I've only gained a few kilograms, but that's a big deal for wrestling. I think the other person will be surprised because the feeling of solidity when holding it and the power at the moment of assembling are completely different. "
Even my sister who I saw nearby ...
As the coach said, I think all the athletes who played in the Olympics were surprised at the strength of Yukako.
Bulgarian players played in the semi-finals.
Three years ago, he was the opponent who lost in the final of the world championship.
In particular, I felt the power of Yukako in the scene where she often pulled down the opponent's body from the fight for kumite.
Yukako, who couldn't lose her balance at all, lost her posture many times, and her stamina was steadily reduced.
It was a close battle with 3 to 2, but I felt a difference in power more than the point difference.
Even Risako, who should have been watching the closest, said:
"I was surprised that I was so strong. I thought I had nothing to say anymore."
The opponent of the final is Tinibekova who was defeated.
Unlike at that time, Yukako was not defeated at all.
He decided to tackle in the first half and led 2 to 1.
The opponent desperately attacked, but calmly judged and did not allow a reversal.
Yukako said, "It was like a dream" the moment she decided to win.
The efforts that have been accumulated step by step have blossomed on the best stage.
This time as a supporter of my sister
At the awards ceremony, Yukako stared at the gold medal she had in her hand and held it with both hands.
"I really wanted this and overcame any practice."
I became the same gold medalist and asked, "Did you catch up with your sister?"
"I think the result has caught up, but my sister is still stronger."
"Tomorrow's Risako's final match remains. I've had a lot of support so far, so I'm careful. I want to tighten and support firmly
. ”One step closer to the“ gold medal in sisters ”that I have been aiming for.
It's time for the younger sister to support her sister toward their greatest dreams.