Rikako Ikee, a survivor of leukemia, will participate for Japan in the 100-meter butterfly event at the Paris Olympics. Following her failure to secure a spot in the individual competition in the Tokyo Games three years ago, she will return to the competition.
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As a result of the announcement made by Japan’s Swimming Federation regarding the 27-person team that will compete at the Paris Games, Daiya Seto, who has won three world championships, will be swimming the men’s individual medley.
After winning six gold medals and two silver medals at the 2018 Asian Games, Ikee, who was only 18 years old at the time, was awarded the Most Valuable Player award. It was anticipated that he would be one of the most prominent athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.
At the beginning of 2019, just a few months after those victories, she was given a diagnosis of leukemia and spent approximately ten months working in the hospital.
By the time she made her triumphant return to competition in August of 2020, she had already accomplished an extraordinary comeback by winning the 100-meter freestyle and the 100-meter butterfly events at the Olympic trials in 2021.
Her exploits earned her selection for both the freestyle and medley relay teams at her home Olympics, despite the fact that her times were not quick enough to qualify her for the individual events that were held in Tokyo.
During the trials that took place in Japan earlier this month, Ikee, who is now 23 years old, managed to clinch her spot in the 100-meter butterfly by a mere 0.01 of a second. She managed to finish second in 57.34 seconds, beating out Matsumoto Shiho, who finished first.
Ikee was cited as stating, “In the end, I think it was my long arms that won the touch,” according to the website Olympics.com. “I think God was on my side today.”
Among the many brilliant Japanese youngsters that were a part of the team, Haiari Mazuki, who was only 17 years old at the time, won the race with an astounding time of 56.91 seconds.
Mio Narita, who is 17 years old and competes in the women’s individual medley, and Tomoyuki Matsushita, who is 18 years old and competes in the same event for men, are both going to Paris.
The chief of the swimming federation, Daichi Suzuki, was quoted as stating, “I’m glad lots of veterans and young talent made it to the national team this time,” according to the media in Japan.
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