Cancer Survivor Japanese Swimmer Fit For ‘Tokyo Olympics’
Ikee was diagnosed with blood cancer in 2019 and after spending 10 months in hospital, she resumed training in March last year
After recovering from leukemia, Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee has been announced ‘medically fit’ to perform in Tokyo Olympics 2021.
Ikee was diagnosed with blood cancer in February 2019 and after spending 10 months in hospital, the swimmer resumed training in March last year.
Soon after qualifying her 4×100-meter medley in 57.77 seconds at summer’s games, Ikee was unable to resist her emotions after winning the race.
Ikee added that she was battling her way back for securing a place in the ‘summer Olympics 2024’.
She won bronze at the Tokyo Open after completing her first 100 meters butterfly in 57.77 seconds at Japan’s Olympic Trials.
The 20-year-old athlete will appear in Tokyo Games that are starting on July 23.
An official handle of Olympics tweeted the achievement of the Japanese swimmer too.
She has done it!
Just two years after being diagnosed with leukemia, 🇯🇵 Ikee Rikako has qualified for her second Olympic Games in the 4x100m medley relay.@Tokyo2020 @rikakoikee @fina1908 @Japan_Olympichttps://t.co/q6kJWZbgQi
— Olympics (@Olympics) April 4, 2021
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According to the Japanese Swimming Federation’s Olympic statistics, the bar stands at 57.10 seconds, whereas Ikee’s national record is 56.08 seconds.
Previous records say that she has bagged the record in 50-meters butterfly race at a non-Olympic event in merely 25.77 seconds.
Moreover, the Japanese swimmer Ikee, who has been declared ‘fit for Tokyo Olympics’ is a national record-holder.
Once she said, “I always thought I’d have the hardest time regaining my form in the butterfly. I never thought I could win this race.”
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