Rikako Ikee, a leukemia survivor, will swim for Japan in the 100m butterfly at the Paris Olympics, having missed out on an individual spot in the Tokyo Games three years ago.Daiya Seto, a three-time world champion, will compete in the men’s individual medley after Japan’s Swimming Federation revealed its 27-member team for the Paris Games on Wednesday.
Ikee, 18, was awarded MVP of the 2018 Asian Games after winning six golds and two silver medals, and he was projected to be a standout at the Tokyo Olympics.
She was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2019, just a few months after her achievements, and she spent about ten months in the hospital.
She only returned to competition in August 2020, and she made an astonishing comeback by winning the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the 2021 Olympic trials.
Her speeds were not quick enough to qualify for the individual events in Tokyo, but her performances earned her spots on both the freestyle and medley relay teams at her home Olympics.
At Japan’s trials earlier this month, Ikee, now 23, secured her ticket in the 100m butterfly by just 0.01sec, finishing second in 57.34sec.
“In the end I think it was my long arms that won the touch,” Ikee was quoted as saying by Olympics.com.
“I think God was on my side today.”
The race was won in an impressive 56.91sec by 17-year-old Haiari Mazuki, one of several talented Japanese teenagers in the team.
Also heading to Paris are Mio Narita, 17, in the women’s individual medley and Tomoyuki Matsushita, 18, who swims the same event for men.
“I’m glad lots of veterans and young talent made it to the national team this time,” Daichi Suzuki, the swimming federation chief, was reported as saying by Japan media.
“I hope to see them on the podium with Japan’s national flag on their shoulders in Paris,” he added.