[Special Feature: Tokyo 2020 and Keio University] Special Interview with Ryota Yamagata: Looking Back on Tokyo 2020

For me, I saw it as being given a chance in a sense. Of course, I had been working toward 2020, but since I had injuries, the one-year postponement increased the time I had to prepare, so there were positive aspects.

The atmosphere was quite different. I think both the athletes and the general public were forced to think about the significance of sports. I felt a different atmosphere in the sense that it was a tournament held amidst such pros and cons.

By starting to take data, I was able to become objective. It was good in the sense that I could track the numbers one by one. I had always wanted to increase my muscle mass, and I can see accurately whether it is actually increasing. I can see not only muscle mass but also things like fat mass.

Professor Inami also taught me how to read the numbers for body composition analysis, focusing on things like protein content, and taught me how to increase those numbers and the correlation between those numbers and muscle mass, which allowed me to adjust the training load. There were many things I could apply to my actual training.

I had looked at it before when I was injured, so it didn't feel particularly strange. If there's a problem area, I feel more relieved if it shows up properly.

My running itself changed. Both the training content and the approach itself changed in various ways. I had been stuck for three years since setting my personal best of 10.00 in 2018, so I always thought I had to change something. However, I didn't really know specifically how to change it, and I also had injuries.

But thanks to the new initiatives this year, my running itself changed significantly, and a sense of running that I've never had before was born. In that context, I set a personal best for the first time in three years, so of course I'm happy with the record, but the feeling of "breaking out of my shell" was very significant for me.

The feeling of running from the day before was also good. So, I had a feeling that I could break the Olympic qualifying standard (10.05 seconds). When I ran one heat, even though the feeling of the race wasn't that good, I clocked 10.01, so even with the wind assist, I thought, "With this feeling, I might go into the 9-second range in the final."

However, in the final, I went in without thinking too much about the record. Normally, I think I would have been more conscious of the 9-second range, but when I devoted myself to the competition, the record came. It's interesting.

I don't have a routine. I think of not having one as my routine, and I leave it undecided. On the contrary, I think deciding on one becomes a cause for anxiety, or rather, I think I would be shaken if I couldn't do it, so I try not to think about it too much.

No, it's been that way for a long time. I don't like things that don't have much basis, and I think it's important to demonstrate my usual strength.

The ground you stand on is different for each competition, and the pressure is different, so if you just keep the movements the same, I think it's a bit simplistic to expect your feelings to be in order.

That's right. I want to pursue the idea that records will come as long as I am prepared in a way that suits me at that time, rather than through a routine.

You become conscious of it. I wasn't in good shape when I entered the venue for the Japan Championships. Even so, at first, I thought third place was secure, but when I actually ran one heat in the qualifiers, I felt I was in a pretty dangerous position. I felt like there were about three athletes faster than me with energy to spare, so I thought, "This might be bad," and it actually became a very tough battle.

The main thing was relief. All of this was because I had set the Japanese record once in June.

But looking back, grabbing the ticket to the Olympics itself was, it might be an exaggeration to call it a miracle, but I think I was blessed with the opportunity. This season had an extremely tight schedule, and I think I've come from a pretty precarious state.

Since I also had injuries, I was prepared to accept it even if I couldn't participate halfway through. Thinking about that, I have to think that I am grateful and happy to have slipped into third place and won the right to represent Japan. To be honest, I felt stiff with nerves on the day.

No, I thought about declining (laughs). Of course, I thought they would be considerate in various ways so as not to interfere with the competition, but it's a big responsibility to carry, so I was troubled.

I think it's because I'm a person in the position of doing sports, but I really think it was good that we could have the Olympics in Tokyo this time.

Amidst various opinions during the COVID-19 pandemic, I reached the conclusion that "No, it's still worth doing." And I also wanted to convey that meaning through my attitude toward the competition. I wanted to communicate something. I thought it would be a very symbolic Olympics for conveying the significance of sports.

In the end, it took the form of being held, but in the midst of not knowing what would happen, I thought the value of the Olympics lay precisely in the attitude of moving forward with courage. I understand that this is a story built on various sacrifices, so I can't say it loudly, but...

We must not stop something, but be proactive about moving forward. If so, I thought it would be good if people could feel me playing as hard as I can.

I feel a connection. I'm glad I was able to follow in my senior's footsteps.

Ultimately, the fact that I accepted the captaincy was also because I had a feeling that I wanted the world to become a better place, although it's an exaggeration to say I'm carrying sports on my shoulders in my own way. I sometimes think that perhaps Senior Ono felt the same way.

I was nervous (laughs).

Yes. You shouldn't think about things at a time like that. Because the more you think about how people all over the world are watching, or that the Emperor is there, the more nervous you get. But actually, I was calmer than during the rehearsal. To be honest, I was glad it went well.

It was difficult to synchronize with Kasumi Ishikawa. We only had one rehearsal the day before. However, Ms. Ishikawa was in the bubble at the Athletes' Village, but at that time I hadn't entered the Athletes' Village yet and was a person outside the bubble, so I couldn't have contact with her, and our waiting rooms were separate.

We had to say the words together, but you can't say "Ready, go" or anything (laughs). When we had a little time, I went behind the scenes and practiced a few times.

For me, both the individual and the relay ended in disappointing results. However, for the Japanese delegation as a whole, there were many medalists, and I think there was a sense of the beauty of the moment when past efforts bore fruit and the excitement of the stories in each sport.

And while the excitement of "Wow, it's a medal!" is part of the appeal of sports, it's a fact that if there's a winner, there are always more than twice as many losers there. I think we were attracting a lot of attention, especially in the relay, with people thinking "They might get a gold medal." But the moment the baton wasn't passed is also one side of sports. I think sports is about including those parts, rather than just showing the good parts.

I might not have been able to meet expectations. I received messages saying "I was so frustrated I cried," which really stung. I also received critical opinions. But I also thought that it "stung" enough that they felt compelled to send a message.

To be honest, we also made as much preparation as possible. I'm not saying it's okay because we showed our attitude, but I do think it led to conveying one of the appealing aspects of sports.

Yes. Anyway, as long as I'm active, I want to take everything positively. I have to turn frustration into energy so that I can say "I am who I am today because of that experience," so I will move forward by switching my mindset.

I think my big motivation lies in my own daily growth, that is, being able to understand things I didn't understand or being able to do things I couldn't do.

So, there are things I can do even if there are no competitions. Right now, I have a bad knee, and I'm practicing while always being conscious of what is necessary to solve that and what kind of future awaits beyond that solution. I want to spend each day importantly in that way.

It's been that way all along. Even for students, if they get injured it's painful, but if they can think of it as "fun" including that, I think it becomes much easier.

I think it's very stifling to think that you're not moving forward if you're not getting results. Even if you're not getting results, you "change," don't you? If I get injured, I can do movements I couldn't do before. During periods when I can't run, I enjoy the changes by doing things I haven't done before, like weight training. I hope people can focus on the fact that they are growing day by day.

For me, I don't think there's a place as easy to access and easy to use, including the track and facilities, as Hiyoshi. There's also the benefit of being able to take measurements at the Institute of Physical Education.

That's right. I've thought about going to the NTC (National Training Center), but I still like Hiyoshi.

The track is also easy to run on. The ground is hard, so I'm grateful that I can get speed. After all, getting speed is a very important thing for track and field athletes that puts a load on the body. The wind also blows in a relatively constant direction, so I can use that to increase or suppress training intensity. There's also a strength training facility for the track and field club, so there are many benefits to practicing here. I sometimes feel sorry that I might be getting in the way of the active students.

The track and field club dormitory is on the other side of Mamushidani, and I still stay there sometimes. While talking with the students. I want to continue to value those kinds of things.

That's right. Next year, and in three years, there are the World Athletics Championships and the Paris Olympics. It'll be here in no time, so I'll do my best.

—I look forward to your future success. Thank you very much for today.