Satomi Suzuki Wins Two Titles at Konami Open, Eyes Paris Olympic Records!

The aftermath: competing in the Paris Olympics as the oldest swimmer in Japanese history

Satomi Suzuki (34, Miki House) competed in the Konami Open (February 15-16) and won the women’s 100m breaststroke final with a time of 1:06.62, surpassing the qualification standard (1:06.87) for the World Championships in July. She also claimed victory in the 50m event, securing two titles.

This marks her third consecutive win in the 100m at the tournament. At 34, she surpassed her previous times of 1:07.23 in 2023 and 1:07.42 in 2024.

Though it’s still early in the season and the significance of the time may be uncertain, Suzuki’s radiant expression and double peace sign toward a longtime photographer right after the race reflected her confidence and satisfaction.

“What? You’re still going?”

Living in Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Suzuki starts her day early. She wakes up just after 5 a.m., quickly eats a bowl of rice with raw egg and natto, and by 6:30 a.m., she’s already training in the pool at her alma mater, Yamanashi Gakuin University, alongside student athletes.

She follows a two-session training routine, with weight training at the gym in between.

Although athlete longevity has improved in recent years, it’s still rare for swimmers to continue competing past 30. Having witnessed many of her peers retire, Suzuki has contemplated her own future more than once.

She initially planned for the Paris Olympics to be her final competition, but during the event, she decided to keep going. Her coach and trainer had never considered retirement an option.

“They believed that as long as I could still train properly, there was no need to stop. Even I thought, ‘Wait, I’m still continuing?’ I also felt like I had given my all in Paris.

But I didn’t reach my personal best, and I was just shy of a medal in the 200m. If I had set a personal best and won a medal, I might have retired. But I felt a sense of unfinished business, and at the same time, the thought arose—‘I can still aim for better times.’”