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

2025/01/22

Image: The moment of victory in the final against Italy (Photo: Kyodo News)

Since I was a child, I watched Yuki Ota, whom my father coached, excel in fencing. When Mr. Ota won medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012, my house became like a public viewing venue, and I was cheering from the very front. In this way, the Olympics have been a close presence since my childhood.

I first became conscious of wanting to compete myself when I went on my first overseas trip to Australia in the 6th grade and won that tournament. Fighting against international athletes and experiencing the joy of winning through tough competition made me think, "I want to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal."

Fencing is often thought of as a sport influenced by reach and height differences, but those gaps can be covered by technique, speed, and tactics. At that tournament, I realized that even with my short stature, I could compete using such skills and strategy. Winning my first international match was the moment I realized the appeal of fencing.

In Paris, I first had the individual event. Ranking-wise, I was in a position to aim for gold, but since I had never won a World Championship before, I set a goal to win each match one by one and advanced to the semifinals with the mindset of defeating the opponent in front of me.

However, in the matches where medals were decided—the semifinals and the bronze medal match—I became too conscious of the medal and was unable to fence as I usually do. Ultimately, I lost both matches, and despite being in the top four, I was the only one without a medal. That frustration didn't go away for several days. I couldn't sleep thinking, "I should have done this or that," but I somehow managed to shift my mindset and head into the team event.

The semifinal against France was a very difficult match. Throughout this Olympics, both in individual and team events, I had been enjoying a sense of exhilaration to the point where I wanted to keep fighting at the Grand Palais venue forever, but this semifinal was the only time I didn't enjoy it. It was so painful that I just wanted it to end quickly and run away. It was a completely "away" environment in France, the birthplace of fencing, and because it is the birthplace, many people understood the rules, and there was booing.

The Men's Foil Team was the final event. Until then, the Japanese team had won medals in team events for three consecutive days, but they were "Silver, Bronze, Bronze," and only Gold was missing. Since the Men's Foil team was ranked number one in the world, there were high expectations and considerable pressure. In that context, the semifinal against France was exhausting because I fought with the intention of betting everything on it.

Out of the nine total bouts, we led in the first three, were caught in the middle three, and pulled away in the final three. I won my first bout 5-1, lost the second 5-8, and won the third 5-2, managing to widen the point gap (Japan won 45-37).

The third bout was the most difficult. I had to fight for the team rather than playing the way I wanted to. I focused thoroughly on minimizing points lost and avoiding fighting where the opponent was strongest. It was a fight with many constraints. However, as a result of doing what needed to be done, we won with a point lead, which I think was good.

It was a match where the members encouraged each other to overcome the challenge. Being able to climb over that big wall was a great growth experience not just for me, but for the entire Japanese team.

After winning against France, I started receiving a lot of praise from the people at the venue. When we beat France, there was a standing ovation, and while walking through the venue, French people asked for handshakes and autographs.

I was told I would be the anchor (the last athlete to fight) for the final against Italy two hours before the match. I had been a member of the team for two years, but during that time, I had never served as the anchor. I never expected to be told that, and I was overcome by immense pressure.

But the other members told me, "Kazuki, you'll be fine." I was selected as the anchor because I had a good matchup against Italy's anchor, who was ranked number one. In the end, Nagano-san gave us a 5-0 lead in the eighth bout, so I could fight comfortably. I was able to enjoy all three of my bouts in the final and play as I usually do (winning 5-4, 7-3, and 5-2. Japan won the championship 45-36). There wasn't the same pain as in the semifinals.

In the team event, we were ranked number one in the world, so we went for the gold, but I didn't truly think we could get it. At the final moment, I felt a mix of the emotion of standing at the top and the relief of "we actually did it." I just had goosebumps and was surrounded by applause so loud it felt like my ears would split. I thought I might never experience that level of exhilaration and satisfaction again.

About three months have passed since then, but winning the gold medal hasn't changed my values or my life. What we athletes aim for is the pinnacle of the sports world once every four years, and my feelings toward that stage remain unchanged. I finished 4th in the individual event and had a match I regret, so I'm not burnt out, and I still want to aim higher at the LA Olympics.

At the Olympics, I received many messages saying, "I felt the wonders of sports. I was moved, and I received courage," but I feel like I might have felt those things even more than they did. Through sports, I connected with everyone cheering, felt a sense of unity, and realized the power of support; I think I was more moved than anyone. I was able to learn about the power of sports through the Olympics. That is the greatest thing I gained from participating this time.

Also, the atmosphere of the Olympic Village was different from what I had imagined; it was very tense, with a unique nervousness and heavy air. I thought this might be something unique to a place where only athletes aiming for the top are gathered.

It was the winter of my second year of high school when I decided to go to Keio and do fencing. Since I was young, I had thought about balancing studies and fencing. Fencing is a minor sport, and I knew I couldn't make a living from it alone, so I wanted to be in an environment and around people who could bring out my potential as much as possible. When I thought about that, I felt that Keio's SFC was the place that satisfied all those needs.

SFC is free, and you can learn various things while exploring what you want to do. There are many unique people, including those who have succeeded in many fields. I wanted to meet various people, so I thought it was the place that suited me best. In fact, through conversations with various people after enrolling, my potential has been drawn out and expanded, and I feel that a good synergy is being created within me.

This academic year, I am studying sports-related and business-related subjects, as well as how to run an organization, which will lead to my future. Managing time during overseas trips is certainly difficult, but I believe whether I do it or not is up to me. I even submitted the final assignment for a subject I took in the spring semester after entering the Olympic Village. No matter how busy you are, there is time to be free. Depending on how you use travel time or off-time at your destination, it can work for you or against you. I think realizing that early on during trips in middle school became the axis for balancing fencing and studies.

Even after I won the gold medal, the Keio Fencing Club doesn't distance themselves from me as an Olympic gold medalist; instead, they actively ask, "What kind of practice are you doing?" and communicate with me. I feel that the team is functioning well by successfully matching what I can provide as a gold medalist with everyone's motivation. I think that is something that would be difficult if it weren't for a place like Keio.

The vertical and horizontal connections unique to Keio are also significant. Just the other day, I went to dinner with some alumni, and people around my grandfather's age treated me very casually and with visible kindness. I think Keio is a place that has built such an atmosphere as a tradition, so we want to carry on that tradition. Elementary school students at the affiliated schools also look at me with sparkling eyes. Just as I admired Mr. Ota, I realize that I am now in a position to be admired.

Something I thought was important through the Olympics is to "enjoy the now." The future is only born by carving out the present. Also, if you are trapped in the past, the present will be neglected. I think this is the same not only in sports but also in academics and society. I believe that if you can enjoy this current situation and carve it out with all your might, the future will be better.

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