News

Many Keio students, alumni, and faculty competed on the world stage at Paris 2024, the 33rd Olympic Games, held from July 26 to August 11, and at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, held from August 29 to September 8, 2024. As we reflect on their success at these events, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all of you for your support.

Going forward, we hope that our community continues to cheer on and encourage our athletes here at Keio University.

■ Paris Olympics

Kazuki Iimura (current student at the Faculty of Policy Management)

Fencing, Men's Team Foil: Gold

Fencing, Men's Individual Foil: 4th

In the men's fencing foil team final, Kazuki Iimura and his team took home the gold medal, marking the first gold for Japan in this event. Iimura was the youngest on the team but clinched the gold through his speed and agility. He also finished fourth in the men's individual foil.

Nonoka Ozaki (current student at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)

Wrestling, Women's Freestyle 68kg: Bronze

Nonoka Ozaki won the bronze medal match in women's 68kg freestyle wrestling, becoming the first female athlete from Keio to win an Olympic medal in an individual event. Although there were some tearful scenes as Ozaki narrowly missed out on advancing to the finals, she pushed forward to win the repechage round and her medal match, securing the bronze.

Wakana Kabasawa (graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management)

Track and Field, Women's 5000ｍ

Wakana Kabasawa competed in the women's 5000m track and field event. She was also a torchbearer for the Olympic flame in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. This was the first time she competed on the Olympic stage as an athlete representing Japan at the Stade de France in Paris.

Ken Toyoda (current student at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)

Track and Field, Men's 400m Hurdles

Ken Toyoda competed in the men's 400m hurdles track and field event. Although he finished 6th in the preliminary heats due to an injury in his left leg, his experience at Paris 2024 will surely be a source of motivation and contribute to his success at future competitions.

Wakaba Hara (graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management)

Women's Rugby Sevens

Wakaba Hara competed in the women's rugby sevens event as a member of the national team. The women's national team, commonly known as the “Sakura Sevens,” defeated Brazil to finish in the 9th position overall, their highest placing at the Olympics to date, surpassing their 10th-place finish at Rio 2016 and 12th-place finish at Tokyo 2020.

Hisashi Mizutori (Associate Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management)

Japan Men's national gymnastics team coach: Men's Gymnastics Team Gold

Hisashi Mizutori, associate professor from the Faculty of Policy Management, led the Japan men's national gymnastics team to victory as they won the gold medal for the first time in two competitions. Associate Professor Mizutori, who has previously won a gold medal as an Olympian himself, once again took to the Olympic stage, not as an athlete but as a coach, and successfully led his team to a gold medal in Paris.

Karin Miyawaki (graduated from the Faculty of Economics)

Fencing, Women's Team Foil: Bronze

Karin Miyawaki's Japan team was victorious in the bronze medal match of the women's fencing team, becoming the first Japanese women's fencing team to win the medal. Miyawaki secured a medal at her long-anticipated Olympic debut.

■ Paris Paralympics

Saki Takakuwa (graduated from the Faculty of Policy Management)

Track and Field, Women's Long Jump T64: 5th

Track and Field, Women's 100m T64: 14th

Saki Takakuwa competed in the women's long jump and 100m track and field events at the Paris Paralympics. For the long jump, she achieved her personal best this season, coming in at 5th place. Following this performance, she competed in the women's 100m, placing in 14th and demonstrating her ability to compete at the international level.

Kenta Chida (Senior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Policy Management)

Japan's wheelchair fencing team coach

Senior Assistant Professor Kenta Chida served as coach for the Japan wheelchair fencing national team. He was part of the men's foil fencing team that won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. Leveraging this experience, he provided valuable support and guidance to the athletes.

Please refer to the following table for the competition results of each athlete.

Olympics

Paralympics