In the women's triathlon competition at the Tokyo Paralympics on Sunday, Mami Tani had to compete against a number of athletes with a lesser degree of disability than her. There was only a PTS5 race on the program for the motor-impaired, while she is classified as PTS4.
Tani finished 10th and last in the race, almost 18 minutes behind gold medalist Lauren Steadman of Britain, who won with a time of 1 hours 4 minutes 46 seconds. Grace Norman of the United States took the silver medal and Britain's Claire Cashmore won the bronze.
The 39-year-old Tani was competing in her fourth Paralympics, having appeared in the previous three as a long jumper under her maiden name of Sato. She took a three-year break to start a family before returning to sports in the para triathlon.
Tani's link to the Tokyo Paralympics goes back to her involvement on the bidding committee that won the right to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, and she served as flag-bearer at the opening ceremony. And while she had mixed feelings about her performance, she crossed the finish line with a smile.
Tani talked after the race with the media. The following are excerpts.
Q: The competition is over.
A: It was tough, but that is part of the triathlon. To be able to compete here is the happiest feeling.
Q: You were in fifth at the start of the cycling leg, but then you fell behind.
A: I'm always in good position after the swimming, but when I don't do well in the cycling leg, there are times I fall to the back and that's where I end the race. Today, too, I just couldn't catch up. When I saw a competitor in the same [disability] class ahead of me, I thought, "This is no good," and pushed myself [on the bicycle]. This took a toll on me for the run, and it was tough. But this is Tokyo, in Japan, so that gave me the strength to push until the end.
Q: It must have been tough because of the change in category.
A: I thought this was very unfair, and that it should never have happened. In the Paralympics, every person has the right to make a challenge. Athletes can't choose the category of their disability. But I think it was a big step forward in the triathlon world that [some athletes] took up the challenge even though they were at a disadvantage.
Q: You have been a leader in the para triathlon. Is this race the end for you?
A: I don't think I put on a display worthy of ending a career. But, first of all I had to get here ... This is my fourth Paralympics, and while I wasn't able to win a medal, in my mind I have received a greater prize.
Q: Your motto was "pushing it to the limit." How would you evaluate yourself in this race?
A: That's difficult. I can't say it's a perfect 100, but the steps I took to get here were a 100, and the actual race had a slight deduction in points. This is the difficult part, and this is competition. Triathlon is a sport in which we have to deal with the elements. [Today], the heat made for severe conditions, but each and every one of us won the battle with ourselves and made it to the finish line. I realized, this really is a wonderful sport.
Q. You contributed to Tokyo's successful bid to host the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Now that it's all over...
A: I am filled with a sense of fulfillment.
Q: On today's race course, you passed by your workplace and your child's nursery school.
A: It felt strange. It was fun.
Q: What would you like to say to your family?
A: I have only feelings of gratitude and want to thank them for being with me on the journey here. They told me, "From the beginning to here, it's been a great life for us. Thank you." Having the same feelings of gratitude made it possible to stand here.
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