THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
April 10, 2023 at 17:20 JST
Japanese swimming superstar Rikako Ikee looked at home again in the pool and atop the medal podium, with her sights now set on the world championships after a long absence.
Ikee claimed four titles in the national championships, setting her personal best in the women’s 50-meter freestyle since returning from her long treatment for leukemia in 2020.
Ikee, 22, clocked 24.74 seconds to win the event on April 9, the final day of the championships, at Tokyo Aquatics Center.
“I swam really comfortably,” she said.
This is her third consecutive 50-meter national freestyle individual title and the sixth in total.
In February 2019, Ikee was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia.
After Ikee received treatment for about 10 months, she returned to competition. She swam at the Tokyo Olympics held in 2021.
But since missing out on the world championships in summer 2022, she has struggled with the gap between her performance and the expectations from people surrounding her and her legions of fans.
“I trained while thinking I have not improved at all,” she said.
Entering the national championships with anxiety, she won the 100-meter butterfly on the first day, securing a spot on the national team.
It gave her momentum and confidence, and she captured another three titles in the women’s 100-meter freestyle, the 50-meter butterfly and and the 50-meter freestyle.
This is the first time for a swimmer to claim four national titles since Ikee accomplished the feat in 2021.
“I was able to compete even under the pressure of feeling that I have to produce results,” Ikee said. “I feel like I’ve returned to a good position as an athlete.”
She secured her spot on the national team in two individual events and will aim for the world championships for the first time since 2017.
“I’m looking forward to competing on the world stage,” she said, her eyes shining brightly.
SWIMMING/ Rikako Ikee adds 2 more titles at national championships
April 10, 2021
SWIMMING/ Leukemia survivor Ikee qualifies for second Tokyo Olympic relay event
April 9, 2021
OLYMPICS/ For leukemia survivor Ikee, just swimming at the Games is a win
July 15, 2021
SWIMMING/ Rikako Ikee qualifies for Tokyo Olympic after leukemia
April 4, 2021
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Swimmer Rikako Ikee wins the women’s 50-meter freestyle in the national championships at Tokyo Aquatics Center on April 9. (Takuya Isayama)
