After arriving in Paris, Chijiang Rikako changed the photos on her social networking sites to a photo of herself with the Eiffel Tower. That was a photo taken by Rikako Chie at the French training camp a year and a half ago.
"I came here with a completely different emotion than a year ago. The atmosphere alone made me nervous." Rikako Chie wrote on social media.
Chijiang Rikako likes to take photos with the Eiffel Tower by holding up the spire. The picture on the left was taken in May 2023, and the picture on the right was taken in June 2024.
In the early morning of July 28th, Beijing time, in the semifinals of the women's 100-meter butterfly at the Paris Olympic Games, Rikako Chie swam with a time of 57.79 seconds, failing to make it to the finals, ending the only individual event in this Olympics.
After the game, Chijiang Lihuazi shed tears on the field, while her friend Zhang Yufei said: "I think she may have endured more (pressure) this time when she stood in the Olympics than the last time. Seeing her performance improving step by step. , I'm very happy. I want to see her a few more times, but I don't know how many more international competitions I can participate in. "
html In Rio 2008, Chie Rikako's name was the interpretation of a genius girl; 8 years later. Today, Chijiang Lihuazi’s name is a hymn about courage and persistence.Goosebumps
"When I saw the swimming pool, I got goosebumps. I was both excited and nervous. This is the first time in a long time that I hope to compete as soon as possible." After coming to the Paris Olympics, Chi Jiangli Hanako sighed.
In the photo, she showed her biceps in front of the Olympic rings, spread her arms by the swimming pool, and always had a smile on her face.
Chijiang Lihuazi in the Paris Olympic Village.
The reason why Chijiang Rikako got goosebumps may be found in her social media - in March this year, she wrote this paragraph on social media: "Four years ago, I told myself that I would definitely go to Paris. And there is more to do. I have been working hard to achieve this goal."
Chijiang Rikako said that four years ago was the day she returned to the swimming pool for the first time after overcoming leukemia. From then on, she set her sights on Paris.
Rikako Chie in the swimming pool
In 2019, Rikako Chie, who had just won Japan's best swimmer of the year, was diagnosed with leukemia. Since being admitted to the hospital in February 2019, she has received treatment for 10 months, during which she has been treated with anti-cancer drugs and underwent a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The pain of the treatment once made her want to give up her life.
"This process was dozens to thousands of times more difficult than I imagined. I have been unable to eat for several days." This is Chijiang Rikako's emotion on social media half a month after receiving treatment - because of chemotherapy Due to the discomfort, she could not eat, even watch TV or answer the phone.
"When I was at my lowest point, I thought about dying. I felt that if I had to go through such pain, I'd better die."
2019 Gwangju World Swimming Championships, top three in the women's 100m butterfly Collectively write on the palms of your hands to support Chijiang Lihuazi.
But she survived. In February 2020, Chijiang Rikako resumed land training after being discharged from the hospital, and entered the swimming pool for the first time on March 17 that year to "test the water."
In August 2020, Chie Rikako, who has short hair, participated in the first competition after her comeback-the Tokyo Special Competition Women's 50-meter Freestyle. Chie won the first place in the group with a time of 26.32 seconds. Although this result is 2 seconds slower than her personal Japanese national record for this event.
In 2021, Rikako Chie appeared at the Tokyo Olympics. Although she only signed up to participate in the women's 4×100 freestyle relay and medley relay, her story from leukemia to returning to swimming is inspiring enough.
Chijiang Rikako is recovering in the gym.
self
For athletes, pain and suffering are just daily life, and the real suffering is the gap from the top to the bottom.
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics Japanese Swimming Trials, Rikako Chie, who had returned for a year, burst into tears at the press conference: "Nothing has improved, what has this year been all about?"
At that time, traces of the disease were on her body Slowly fading away, but the explosiveness and strength that belong to athletes cannot be found in a short while - under the dual pressure of time and state, Chijiang Rikako was left with more than frustration.
But as the Paris Olympic cycle approaches, Chijiang Rikako has more time to find herself, and her mentality has become more calm and calm.
After the Japanese Swimming National Championships, Rikako Chie said: "There is not much pressure and tension now. I feel very relaxed and really enjoy the competition."
The countdown to the one-year anniversary of the Tokyo Olympics was held, and Rikako Chie attended with the Olympic flame.
According to Chijiang Rikako, I used to be able to swim very fast without thinking about anything, but now I need to find a more suitable method for myself.
For this reason, Chijiang Rikako practices shooting every day, and also learns how to dive deeply immediately after entering the water, so as to obtain better propulsion.
"For me now, what I need most is to complete each goal step by step and slowly improve my status."
In March last year, Chijiang Rikako also wrote on social media: "Because of frustration and pain, I cried many times during practice, but this is the first time I cried with joy."
As her condition gradually improves, Chie Rikako's goal is no longer limited to returning to the swimming pool: "Compared to fighting in Japan, fighting against the world's masters. It will be more interesting - 100m butterfly, I hope to compete with as many world athletes as possible. "
" At the Tokyo Olympics, I hope people think that I have really returned to swimming, but I didn't do that this year. I want to prove in a game that the real Rikako Chie is back. "
2021 Rikako Chie at the Japan National Swimming Championships.
Beyond her 15-year-old self
Is Chie Rikako really back?
html In Rio 2008, Chijiang Rikako was still in high school and qualified for seven events; but at the Paris Olympics, she only narrowly qualified for the women's 100-meter butterfly.This is her best event, but even so, in the women's 100-meter butterfly semifinals of the Paris Olympics, Chie Rikako only swam 57.79 seconds, 0.86 seconds behind the threshold for advancing to the finals.
Even the best competition since her comeback was only 57.03 seconds in the Japanese swimming Olympic trials in April, which was nearly one second slower than her personal best of 56.08 seconds and slower than the American Gretchen. The new world record of 55.18 seconds set by Gretchen Walsh was nearly two seconds slower.
But Chijiang Rikako was still very excited at that time: "It took me 4 years to finally surpass my 15-year-old self."
When she first heard this sentence, she was filled with sadness, but only she knew that she had sacrificed so much for this achievement. How much effort it took.
Chijiang Rikako cried after winning the bronze medal in the women's 50-meter butterfly final of the Hangzhou Asian Games.
In the past year, she went to Australia for special training and studied under the famous coach Michael Ball. During this time, Chijiang Lihuazi gained ten pounds in weight. What's more important is that in such an environment, she can finally be an ordinary person again.
was interviewed by the Olympic official website. Michael Ball's assistant coach Janelle Pallister described it this way: "We have no superstars here. Everyone is treated equally, but Rikako Chie is the best-trained athlete in the team."
" In Japan, she enjoys a high profile, but when she trains here, she has to be a normal person. She can enjoy training and enjoy life without extra pressure,"
Pallister said just last fall. When she saw Chijiang Rikako, her face was still full of sadness, but now her mentality is more peaceful. As Chie Rikako herself said: “In Japan, I am the one being chased, but in Australia, I am the chaser.It's an exciting environment and it makes me want to beat everyone before I go back to Japan. "
For today's Chijiang Lihuazi, surpassing the 15-year-old self is not just about achievements.
