Rikako Ikee, a 19-year-old female swimmer battling leukemia, practiced at a Tokyo pool on Thursday, an event that was streamed online to the press corps. In an interview with a pool reporter, Ikee revealed that she is aiming to make a comeback at the Inter College Swimming Championships scheduled for October. "My goal is the 2024 Paris Olympics. I want to establish a good foundation and give it my all," she said.
It was her first time showcasing her swimming skills since being discharged from the hospital back in December. "I don't want to end my swimming career with just one shot [at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics]. I want to express to people with illnesses that it's possible to become this strong," she said, once again showing her ambition. As she looks forward to her 20th birthday Saturday, she said, "I want to become a good adult and woman with a purpose, while sometimes relying on the people around me."
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