For swimmer Rikako Ikee, the Olympics still means Paris in 2024. But the leukemia survivor still hasn't ruled out a possible appearance at the Tokyo Games this summer.
"I'll keep trying as long as there is still a chance, but right now I'm aiming for Paris," Ikee said Friday at a training session open to the media at Nihon University's Sangenjaya campus in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old Ikee has made a remarkable comeback to competition since undergoing treatment for leukemia that was diagnosed in February 2019. The Tokyo Olympics, once a forgotten dream, are back within reach after Ikee posted times good enough to qualify for the Japan national championships in April, which will serve as the domestic Olympic qualifier.
"I'm totally excited about seeing how well I can do at the next meet," said Ikee, who notched her first victory of her comeback by winning the non-Olympic 50-meter butterfly at the Tokyo Open on Feb. 21.
During her three-hour workout, Ikee did laps in her main strokes of freestyle and butterfly, and also spent time on the exercise bicycle.
"I want to return someday to international competition," Ikee said after the session. "I have only just started to raise my level, but I want to exceed my own limits at the Japan championships."
Ikee has not yet decided what events she will enter at the April 2-10 meet at the new Tokyo Aquatics Center, but coach Isamu Nishizaki said the goal is clear.
"First of all, the goal is to win one race," he said. "Further down the road, if the results are good, then we can start talking about the Olympics."
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