Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee on Sunday (April 4) certified for the Tokyo Olympics simply two years after she was recognized with leukemia. She swam a time of 57.77 seconds within the 100-meter butterfly at Japan’s nationwide championships held on the new swimming venue for the Tokyo Olympics. That certified her for a spot within the medley relay.
She was overcome with tears within the water after the race, and will barely communicate out of the water later, sniffling and crying on the similar time. She slammed her left arm in opposition to the water when she realized she’d gained.
“I was not expecting to win the 100 meters at all, and I was feeling far less confident than during the Olympic qualifiers five years ago,” she stated.
“I thought I wouldn’t be able to win for a long time. But I trained hard to win. And, in the end, I came into the race telling myself I’m back. And so I feel that, even if you go through suffering and pain, your hard work will always be rewarded.”
The 20-year-old Ikee returned to the pool a couple of yr in the past however had stated her objective was solely to arrange for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. She had downplayed her possibilities for her house Olympics.
She would have been among the many favorites in a number of Olympic races in Tokyo races if she had not fallen unwell and confronted setbacks. “I wanted to try to feel true happiness just being here,” she added.
“My teammates cheered me on, sending me off (to the race). And so I am now filled with happiness.”
Ikee gained six gold medals in 2018 on the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, which included the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, and the 50 and 100-meter butterfly. She additionally gained gold in two relays, and added two silvers.
Her time in profitable the 100-meter butterfly in Jakarta was 56.08 seconds, the quickest of the season. She was closing in on the world report held by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden of 55.48. It stays the world-record time.
She completed sixth within the 100-meter butterfly within the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
