[Achievements of Keio Students and Keio University Alumni at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games] Medalist Interview

2024/12/11

Photo: At the President's Reception (September 30, Mita Campus)

I have been fencing since I was a child, but I first became conscious of the Olympics when I was a second-year student at Keio Girls Senior High School, after hearing a talk by Yuki Ota (former President of the Japan Fencing Federation and silver medalist at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics). The Rio Olympics (2016) were approaching, so I decided to make that my goal.

In my first year of high school, I placed third in the World Junior Championships. Additionally, after the 2012 London Games, many of the older generation left the national team, so I felt that qualifying for the Olympics might be within my reach.

However, in the end, I failed to make the team for both Rio and Tokyo (2021). After Rio, I just thought my mindset was still too naive, but the Tokyo Games were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity held in my home country. Having missed it on my second attempt, I honestly thought I might never become an Olympian and even considered retiring.

But age-wise, the next Paris Olympics were still well within reach, and the national team looked like it would become a strong contender for a medal. I felt that quitting then would lead to regrets, so I decided to continue until Paris.

Actually, I believe I grew the most during the Tokyo Olympics. Before the Tokyo Games, we were in a very difficult situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The members who were competing could not participate in matches abroad or face international opponents. This meant that if those of us serving as practice partners in Japan weren't strong, they wouldn't get effective practice.

Therefore, instead of thinking, "I didn't make the Olympics, so it doesn't matter anymore," I felt a responsibility as a practice partner for the competing athletes. Since it was a team capable of aiming for a medal, I devoted myself seriously to the training with the desire for them to do their best. I believe that resulted in a good start for the three-year journey toward Paris.

During the three years leading up to Paris, I began to be selected for the World Championships starting around 2021 and 2022. In the team events specifically, winning my first bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships while playing my own style of fencing gave me great confidence.

I felt that the team event offered a higher chance of a medal in Paris than the individual event. As the third fencer and the starter in the team rotation, I wanted to pass the baton to the next athlete. Since we had other excellent fencers, I focused on fighting while making sure not to be a drag on the team.

When my participation in Paris was confirmed, my strongest feeling was that I didn't want it to end just by showing up. I believed we were a team that could aim for a medal, and since I didn't know if I would be on the team again four years later, I was determined to go and grab a medal.

In the foil team event, we first faced Poland in the quarterfinals. I think my best performance was in the first match against Poland. It was the third bout for the team, and I wanted to turn the score around early. I expected Poland to take an early lead, so in a team match, it is very important to reverse that quickly and take as many points as possible before passing it on. I won 9–5, and I feel I fulfilled my role and passed the baton to the next person. Consequently, we defeated Poland 45–30. Although we lost the next match against Italy, we were able to advance to the bronze medal match.

Before the bronze medal match against Canada, it had been decided that I would only appear in one bout and leave the rest to the other athletes. So, I was determined to hold my ground in that one bout, even if it ended in a draw, and pass it on. In recent years, video analysis has advanced, allowing us to understand the tendencies and habits of other countries. Canada is a counter-attacking team, and matches against them usually result in low scores. Since it becomes difficult if they take the lead, I focused on widening the gap one point at a time and connecting the match carefully without making forced errors. The result was a 2–2 draw, but I'm glad I was able to pass it on to the next fencer.

After that, I believed that if everyone showed their strength, we would definitely win. As a result, we secured the bronze medal by a narrow margin of just one point, 33–32. The bronze medal match was held in the center of the Grand Palais. The ceiling was incredibly high, and it was my first time competing in such a venue.

The moment I received the bronze medal, I thought that winning a gold medal in a team event is not something easily achieved. I felt that I now had a goal of winning gold at the next Los Angeles Games. Now that some time has passed, I realize that the goal of gold in LA is something that can only be reached through steady practice and effort over a long period. I believe I have a great goal to work toward.

I was very happy to receive congratulations not only from those involved in the Keio Fencing Club but also from various people within the Keio Gijuku Shachu. Since many of my peers and associates are still involved in fencing, I am glad I could show them a medal from the Olympics, the biggest stage in the fencing world.

The reason I started fencing at Keio was that when I was in my second year of junior high school, someone from the Keio Fencing Club asked me, "Why don't you come to Keio?" I was attending a combined junior and senior high school, and I thought my only options were to stop fencing to study for university entrance exams or to go via a sports recommendation. However, I was told that if I entered Keio through the Girls Senior High School, I wouldn't need to take university entrance exams and could choose my faculty. So, I decided to enter Keio at the time of high school entrance.

In high school, I did my fencing activities outside of school, but the Girls Senior High School was such a fun place that my friends and I still say to this day, "High school really was the peak of our youth." I think it was a very happy thing for me to have a place unrelated to fencing. The Girls Senior High School was truly free and open, with many classmates active in diverse fields. Surrounded by such people, I enjoyed my youth through school events and studies.

Fencing has occupied a large part of my life since I was a child, and because my family was also enthusiastic, I think I was often exposed to pressure and the expectations of those around me. Having a place at the Girls Senior High School where I was surrounded by friends who didn't care whether I won or lost a match, and where I could enjoy school life as an ordinary high school girl, was very significant.

In particular, the Drama Festival was an event where students spent a long time creating everything themselves to complete a story. It was an event where high school girls poured in their passion, and the experience of working together as a class was wonderful. Fencing is basically an individual sport, and until then, I hadn't had much experience doing one thing with everyone. I felt like I touched upon the sense of achievement of being part of an organization for the first time in my life.

Later, at the university, I joined the Athletic Association Fencing Club, which was the first time in my life I participated in a school club activity. The women's team at Keio wasn't that strong, but I enjoyed fulfilling my role as a team member. During my time there, we were promoted from the second division to the first division for the first time, and I also competed in team events for weapons other than foil. These experiences made me feel like I had truly joined a club.

While there were difficulties in balancing club activities with the national team, I also gained a lot. For example, in the club, I needed to score many points by myself in the foil events, which was a good experience. Also, experiencing other weapons like epee and sabre was by no means a waste in terms of broadening my competitive range.

The Keio Fencing Club has a long history and inherited traditions. Now, with a new dojo, I think there is an atmosphere of doing fencing both strictly and enjoyably. In the past, the main flow was students entering from Keio Senior High School, but now Shonan Fujisawa Junior and Senior High School has also become strong. With multiple affiliated schools, I think it is a good thing that the university club members are becoming more diverse.

A good thing about Keio is that you are not given any special treatment just because you are an athlete. I was in the Faculty of Economics, and I was able to devote myself to my studies as an ordinary student. There were difficult parts due to overseas tours and such, but I think I was fortunate to be able to complete my studies properly. I believe it was a university that allowed me to practice the balance of academic and physical excellence.

I believe there are two points of significance to fencing at Keio. One is the ability to practice the balance of academic and physical excellence I just mentioned. The other is that the vertical and horizontal connections are truly strong. It's not just the Fencing Club; each person is part of a large group called the Keio Gijuku Shachu where everyone supports each other. I think that is the significance of doing sports at Keio.

I want to tell Keio students who will enter in the future that it is important to have at least one thing to devote yourself to during your free time. As one of those options, the Athletic Association is a place with strong bonds, and there are many peers who spend their university life with great passion. I believe those friends will become irreplaceable existences for the rest of your life.

Currently, the Japanese national team has risen to 3rd in the world rankings. I want to maintain that ranking. If we keep this rank, we can of course participate in the Olympics, and it will also be important in terms of advancing to the finals. I want to do my best to stay in good condition and win a medal of an even better color.

(Composed from an interview. Interviewer = Keio University Vice-President [Athletic Association] Keita Yamauchi)