Paris Olympics: Single-Digit Gold Medal Expectations Amid Judo’s Struggles and Swimming Discord

In July 2023, at the World Championships held in their home city of Fukuoka, the swimming team suffered a major setback with only two bronze medals, leading to reports in August of a crisis of division within Japanese swimming.

“The disagreement within the team, triggered by the selection of relay team members, escalated into a visible conflict due to differences in opinions. Not only were complaints voiced by athletes about feeling like ‘athletes are no longer the priority,’ but it was also evident that advice from Japan’s head coach for the Olympics, Takamasa Hirai, regarding team management and proposed strengthening plans, were not being accepted, leading to confusion.” (Sports newspaper desk)

In August, a meeting was held in Tokyo with Ryosuke Irie, the team captain, and other key players along with the staff. Simultaneously, the project was disbanded, and it was revealed that Coach Hirai had been relieved of his position.

“The internal discord just a year before the Paris Olympics was painful. The departure of Coach Hirai, who nurtured athletes like Kosuke Kitajima and Yui Ohashi, who won two golds in medley events at the Tokyo Olympics, also had a significant impact.” (Same sports newspaper desk)

On November 8, the Japan Aquatics Federation announced the selection criteria for the Japanese swimming team for the Paris Olympics.

“At the selection trials in March 2024, it was decided that the qualifying times required for Olympic representation would be based on stricter individual standards than those applied at the World Championships in July (Fukuoka). For individual events, the top two athletes who surpassed the qualifying standard in the finals would be selected.

In response, a petition was submitted by some coaches advocating for the selection criteria to be based on Olympic qualifying times. However, President Daichi Suzuki emphasized the importance of setting high standards for past Olympics as well, which has pushed athletes to strive to surpass them. It’s crucial to compete with high goals.’ In this scenario, Hikaru Honda, the new ace from the men’s 200-meter butterfly silver medalist list at the Tokyo Olympics, becomes a key figure. It’s a precarious situation whether not only Yui Ohashi, aiming for consecutive victories, but also Rikako Ikee and Daiya Seto, will be able to compete on the Olympic stage.” (Same sports newspaper journalist)

Will Japan be able to show the pride of the former host nation in Paris?