[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, 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. Also, after the 2012 London Games, many of the older generation left the national team, so I thought that competing in the Olympics might be within my reach.

However, in the end, I failed to make the team for both Rio and Tokyo (2021). At the time of Rio, I just thought my mindset was a bit naive, but the Tokyo Games were a once-in-a-lifetime event 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 team capable of aiming for a medal. I felt I would regret quitting then, so I decided to continue until Paris.

Actually, I think 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 play matches abroad or face international athletes. This meant that if those of us serving as practice partners in Japan weren't strong, the practice wouldn't be effective.

Therefore, instead of thinking "I didn't make the Olympics, so it doesn't matter," I felt a responsibility as a practice partner for the competing athletes. Since it was a team that could aim for a medal, I devoted myself seriously to the training with the desire for them to do their best. I think 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 around 2021 and 2022. In the team event specifically, being able to play my style of fencing and winning my first bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships gave me confidence.

I thought the chances of a medal in Paris were higher for the team event than the individual event. As the third fencer and the lead-off, if I could pass the baton to the next athlete, we had other great players lined up. I fought with the mindset of making sure I didn't hold the team back.

When my participation in Paris was confirmed, my strongest feeling was that I didn't want it to end with just appearing. 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 in four years, I was determined to go and grab a medal.

In the women's foil team event, we first faced Poland in the quarterfinals. I think my best performance was in the first match against Poland. As a team, it was the third bout, and we 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 turn it around quickly and take as many points as possible before passing it on. I won 9–5, and I think I fulfilled my role and passed the baton to the next person. As a result, we beat 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 was 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 tie, and pass it on. In recent years, video analysis has advanced, allowing us to understand the tendencies and habits of each country. Canada is a counter-attacking team, and matches against them usually result in low scores. It becomes difficult if they take the lead, so I focused on widening the gap one point at a time and connecting the match carefully without making mistakes. The result was a 2–2 draw, but I'm glad I was able to pass it on to the next person.

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

The moment I received the bronze medal, I realized that winning a gold medal in a team event is not something easily achieved. I felt that I now had a new goal: the gold medal 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 classmates 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 to a university on a sports scholarship. 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.

At the Girls Senior High School, I did my fencing activities outside of school, but it was such a fun place that my friends and I still say to each other, "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, and there were 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. At the Girls Senior High School, being surrounded by friends for whom it didn't matter whether I won or lost a match, and having a place where I could enjoy school life as an ordinary high school girl, was a big deal.

In particular, the Drama Festival was an event where students spent a long time creating everything themselves to complete a story, pouring in all their passion. 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 my first time participating 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.

Balancing club activities with the national team had its difficulties, but I also gained a lot. For example, in the club, I needed to score many points on my own in foil matches, 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 along with the traditions it has inherited, it now has a new dojo. I think there is an atmosphere of doing fencing both strictly and enjoyably. In the past, there was a large flow of 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, such as overseas tours, but I think I was lucky to be able to complete my studies properly within that environment. 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. Not just the Fencing Club, but the fact that 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 entering the university that it is important to have at least one thing to devote themselves to during their free time. As one option, the Athletic Association is a place with strong bonds and many peers who spend their university lives with great passion. I believe those friends will become irreplaceable existences for the rest of your life.

Currently, the Japanese national team's world ranking has risen to 3rd. I want to maintain that ranking. If we keep this rank, we can of course compete 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.

(Based on an interview. Interviewer: Keio University Vice-President [Athletic Association] Keita Yamauchi)