Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee will compete in Olympic qualifiers in April after clinching a podium finish in her first 100 metres butterfly event since being treated for leukaemia.
FILE PHOTO: Japan's swimmer Rikako Ikee reacts after competing in the women's 50 metres freestyle competition in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo distributed by Kyodo August 29, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERSREUTERS: Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee will compete in Olympic qualifiers in April after clinching a podium finish in her first 100 metres butterfly event since being treated for leukaemia.
Ikee, who was diagnosed in February 2019 and returned to action in August last year, finished in 59.44 seconds to win bronze at the Tokyo Open on Saturday.The 20-year-old will now compete at the Japan Swim meet, the country's only Olympic-qualifying event before the Tokyo Games which were rescheduled to begin on July 23.
The Japanese Swimming Federation's Olympic qualifying bar stands at 57.10 seconds, while Rio 2016 finalist Ikee's national record is 56.08 seconds. "I can't say that I'm aiming for it now," Ikee said https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/rikako-ikee-books-spot-at-japan-s-olympic-qualifiers-with-first-butterfly-podium when asked about her chances of competing at her home Olympics.AdvertisementIkee also won the 50-metres butterfly race, a non-Olympic event, with a time of 25.77 seconds.
ほんと根性のある選手さんです😂