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Rikako Ikee has registered for a contest in Tokyo this month, native media reported.© AFP
Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee has registered for a contest in Tokyo this month, her first since her shock analysis with leukaemia final yr, native media reported on Tuesday. The 20-year-old was a powerful favorite for 100-metre butterfly gold at her dwelling Olympic Games earlier than revealing final yr that she had been recognized with leukaemia. She was discharged from hospital in December after being hospitalised for about 10 months and resumed coaching in March. Public broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News mentioned on Tuesday that Ikee has registered for a 50-metre freestyle race organised by the Tokyo Swimming Association on August 29.
A spokesman for the affiliation declined to remark, saying solely that registration for the occasion was nonetheless open.
Ikee has documented her struggle towards the illness on-line, thanking her legions of followers for his or her assist.
“It was a long and hard time,” she mentioned final yr in a handwritten message posted on her Twitter account.
Ikee was additionally thought of a contender for the Tokyo 2020 200m freestyle, however her analysis compelled her to change her focus to competing within the 2024 Olympics.
She has not mentioned if she plans to rethink and compete in Tokyo subsequent yr, following the postponement of the Games due to the coronavirus.
She served as the important thing determine at a subdued year-to-go ceremony for the postponed Games final month, urging disheartened athletes to not lose religion.
Promoted
“Think of the coming year not simply as a one-year postponement, but a plus-one,” she mentioned.
“To overcome adversity, what we need is hope, a flame of hope of glowing in the distance allows us to keep trying, to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it is.”
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