On the ema dedicated for the New Year, I wrote, ``I will bring the gold medal back to Japan.''
I am Misaki Emura, a female fencing saber who is aiming for the Paris Olympics this summer.
She is 1 meter 70 cm tall and her weapon is long attacks that utilize her footwork. At the World Championships last July, she became the first Japanese athlete to win two consecutive championships, giving a strong impression to the world that she is a "gold medal candidate" for the Paris Games.
She will compete for the first gold medal in Japanese fencing history in France, the home of the sport.
(Sports News Department reporter Tomohisa Konno)
table of contents
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◇◇Interview story◇◇
[Basic information] Misaki Emura
table of contents
table of contents
attention
◇◇Interview story◇◇
[Basic information] Misaki Emura
A year of competition for the “blonde fencer”
January 4th, the start of 2024, is the start of the new year.
Emura was practicing silently at a training facility in Tokyo, with her trademark blonde hair tied up in a bun.
The selection race for the right to participate in the Paris Olympics continues until the end of March. There was a sense of tension in his dignified expression.
He spoke frankly about his thoughts on the Paris Games, where he will compete as world champion.
Misaki Emura
: ``During the Tokyo Olympics, I was in the position of a complete challenger, but now I'm in a position where I have to win the gold medal.The expectations of those around me are completely different than they were back then, and I sometimes feel pressured, but it hasn't changed. I want to take on the challenge as a challenger.”
After competing in the Tokyo Games for the first time, Emura quickly rose to the top of the world. When we looked into the reasons for the rapid growth, two keywords came to mind.
``Enjoy''
``Believe in yourself''
It may be a simple word, but it is a word that Emura cherishes from the bottom of his heart.
``Enjoy'' even in serious competitions
In July 2021, I participated in the Tokyo Games for the first time, and lost in the third round of the individual competition, and the team came in 5th place, falling short of my goal of winning a medal.
Lost in the third round of the individual competition at the Tokyo Olympics (2021)
Her parents are former athletes, and her father, Koji, is an Olympian who participated in the Seoul Olympics. For Emura, the Olympics was a special stage that he had been aiming for since he was a child, and the setback at the tournament, in which he had given everything he had, left a big hole in his heart.
Emura
: ``I think I've given it my all, but I wonder what more I can do to improve.I've always wondered what I can do to become stronger.''
I was physically and mentally exhausted from the overseas expeditions that continued after the Tokyo Games, and I began to lose interest in fencing, which I loved.
At that time, the words spoken to him by French coach Jerome Goose pierced his heart.
coach jerome goose
``Let's enjoy the competition more.''
Emura describes himself as a ``competitive perfectionist who hates losing.'' He says it was a new feeling to ``enjoy'' the serious competition.
These words will change the way you approach competition.
He began to enjoy playing games with his opponents, which led to improvements in his technique.
First gold medal at the World Championships (2022)
He rose to the podium more often and won his first gold medal at the World Championships the year before.
Emura
: ``Until then, I was doing things with a life-or-death mentality.If things didn't go well, I would get anxious and frustrated.I had no concept of having fun.Jerome then came to me and said, ``You can have fun and try things more freely.'' 'I feel like I've become a lot more free.Of course, I want to win, but I think I'm stronger when I feel like I'm enjoying a serious fight with my opponent. I think it's important to enjoy it from there."
The reason for ``Believing in yourself'' is
His journey after becoming world champion was not all smooth sailing.
As he was being chased, he was studied by his rivals, and due to his own injuries, he was unable to win again.
The second keyword I came up with to overcome this barrier was ``Believe in yourself.''
Mr. Emura has his own thoughts on this.
Emura
: ``I realized that my legs weren't feeling well or that I was creating an escape route somewhere.If I'm not prepared to accept whatever the outcome is, and if I'm not prepared to get hurt, I won't be able to perform at my best.That's why. It is very important to ``believe in yourself,'' and when you believe in yourself, there is no escape and you can seriously go for the win.''
The attitude of ``enjoying'' that I learned from Coach Jerome.
And the determination to ``believe in myself'' that I derived from myself.
Two consecutive wins at the World Championship (2023)
Supported by these two words, they fought through a close battle at the World Championship last July and achieved their second consecutive victory.
Coach Jerome, who supports him by his side, praises his mental growth.
Coach Jerome Goose
: ``She now has a sense of 'I can do it.' A feeling that anything is possible, that she can achieve any goal if she wants to. It will help us reach even higher goals.”
The goal is “only one gold medal”
This year's Olympics will be held in France, the home of fencing.
The venue will be the Grand Palais, which was built for the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition, and it is expected that the match will be held surrounded by the cheers of enthusiastic fans.
``Believe in yourself and have fun.''
If you stick to these words, your goal of glory will be waiting for you.
Emura
: ``I'm both excited and nervous.If I believe in myself and enjoy the competition, I'll be able to give my 120% and have no regrets, and I believe I can win the gold medal, so I'm looking forward to the Paris Olympics.'' My biggest ambition is to never lose to my opponent emotionally, and I want to play aggressively with a strong attitude, so I hope you can see me having fun and fighting without hesitation. think"
“Believe in yourself and enjoy”
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[Always try new things! ]
December 29th, the end of last year.
Emura visited a beauty salon in Tokyo during his brief time off.
Since the year after the Tokyo Olympics, I have been coloring my hair as a change of pace.
Her blonde hair has now become her trademark, and in October 2023 she won the ``Best Hair Award'' selected by the hair salon association nationwide.
This is the first time I have chosen pink as I prepare for a year of competition.
His attitude of always taking in new things shines through.
[I went to New Year's visit...]
For New Year's visit, I visited "Togo Shrine" in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, which is dedicated to Togo Heihachiro.
On the votive tablet he dedicated, he wrote his goal for the Paris Games: ``Bring a gold medal back to Japan.''
(Broadcast on News Watch 9 on January 25th)
[Basic information] Misaki Emura
World Championship Women's Saber 2nd consecutive victory
▽Date of Birth: Born November 20, 1998
▽Birthplace: Oita Prefecture
▽Main Achievements:
Tokyo Olympics Women's Saber Individual 3rd Round
World Championship 2022/2023 Women's Saber 2nd consecutive victory