Olympic Special:JUDO/ Ryoko TANI
08/08/2007
08/08/2007
Medal hopefuls set sights on Beijing
It's exactly a year before the start of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing and athletes are hard at work preparing for the Games.
We asked five of Japan's likely podium challengers to take a brief rest from their busy schedules to give their thoughts on the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.
Judoka Ryoko Tani is seeking a third-straight gold medal and first as a mother, swimmer Kosuke Kitajima says he wants to win a gold for his coach, table-tennis star Ai Fukuhara has pledged to put in a better performance in her second trip to the Games, while badminton doubles pair Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota say they're ready to make their Olympic dreams a reality.
The Asahi Shimbun
* * *
My first appearance at the Summer Olympics was in Barcelona in 1992. If I make next year's Olympic team, Beijing will be my fifth Summer Games.
I feel the four-year period between Olympics is a perfect fit for me. The Olympic year naturally becomes a dynamic one that makes me feel, "I'll do it."
I have always been supported by others during my judo career. The Olympics especially has been the biggest stage at which I have been able to shine the best because of the cooperation I gained from the many people who have supported and cheered me on.
When I got married and promised to win a gold medal with a different surname at Athens, my husband was with me.
Now I have given birth to a son so I am feeling a new form of happiness.
Having set up the perfect environment for judo as well as child rearing, I hope to pass along messages that can lead to an improvement in the environment for female athletes by exchanging information I have gained through my various experiences with as many people as possible.
My training has been a little different than usual. I used to train mainly in Fukuoka but since my husband, Yoshitomo, got traded from the Orix Buffaloes to the Yomiuri Giants, I have switched to my alma mater, Teikyo University, in Tokyo.
My coach is Akira Inada, who's taught me since I first started judo at the age of 7.
I was reminded of my youth when training last month. I didn't stop during the session and tried out various moves.
I felt like I was the same young girl who weighed about 20 kilograms but had enough courage to grapple boys close to 100 kgs.
In order to achieve my goal of winning a gold medal as a mother, I want to accelerate the pace at which I evolve as an athlete.
I also want to remain an athlete who further shines and continues to grow while receiving continued support and cheers from the fans.
* * *
Ryoko Tani, 31, is originally from Fukuoka Prefecture. She won gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Games in the 48-kilogram category. Her husband is baseball player Yoshitomo Tani. She gave birth to a son in late 2005.
We asked five of Japan's likely podium challengers to take a brief rest from their busy schedules to give their thoughts on the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.
Judoka Ryoko Tani is seeking a third-straight gold medal and first as a mother, swimmer Kosuke Kitajima says he wants to win a gold for his coach, table-tennis star Ai Fukuhara has pledged to put in a better performance in her second trip to the Games, while badminton doubles pair Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota say they're ready to make their Olympic dreams a reality.
The Asahi Shimbun
* * *
My first appearance at the Summer Olympics was in Barcelona in 1992. If I make next year's Olympic team, Beijing will be my fifth Summer Games.
I feel the four-year period between Olympics is a perfect fit for me. The Olympic year naturally becomes a dynamic one that makes me feel, "I'll do it."
I have always been supported by others during my judo career. The Olympics especially has been the biggest stage at which I have been able to shine the best because of the cooperation I gained from the many people who have supported and cheered me on.
When I got married and promised to win a gold medal with a different surname at Athens, my husband was with me.
Now I have given birth to a son so I am feeling a new form of happiness.
Having set up the perfect environment for judo as well as child rearing, I hope to pass along messages that can lead to an improvement in the environment for female athletes by exchanging information I have gained through my various experiences with as many people as possible.
My training has been a little different than usual. I used to train mainly in Fukuoka but since my husband, Yoshitomo, got traded from the Orix Buffaloes to the Yomiuri Giants, I have switched to my alma mater, Teikyo University, in Tokyo.
My coach is Akira Inada, who's taught me since I first started judo at the age of 7.
I was reminded of my youth when training last month. I didn't stop during the session and tried out various moves.
I felt like I was the same young girl who weighed about 20 kilograms but had enough courage to grapple boys close to 100 kgs.
In order to achieve my goal of winning a gold medal as a mother, I want to accelerate the pace at which I evolve as an athlete.
I also want to remain an athlete who further shines and continues to grow while receiving continued support and cheers from the fans.
* * *
Ryoko Tani, 31, is originally from Fukuoka Prefecture. She won gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Games in the 48-kilogram category. Her husband is baseball player Yoshitomo Tani. She gave birth to a son in late 2005.
(IHT/Asahi: August 8,2007)
FONTE: Asahi Shimbun - Tokyo, Japan
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário