Tomoyuki is a 16 year old swimmer from Japan. he provided a monthly blog in the build-up to the London Paralympic Games:
DECEMBER:
“I placed eighth in London 2012 Paralympic Games!!”
I appreciate the staff in INAS who supported to put my blog on INAS home page.
I participated in an event “100m Backstroke” in London Paralympic Games, and I placed eighth.
As London Paralympic Games approached, the media interviews increased toward me. Whenever I received media interview, I always felt the pressure of the gold medal, and overly nervous.
I can tell you this now; I did not want to go to Narita Airport.
I relaxed, and could swim in the preliminary heat of “100m Backstroke”.
The time has come for me to leave for the final game.
I was under extreme tension when I went to the swimming pool, because the atmosphere at the final competition venue was unusual.
I could not look at the line’s flags because of tension, failed the turn.
However, I did not give up the game, I swam till the finish.
I placed eighth in London 2012 Paralympic Games, therefore, I could see Their Imperial Majesties Emperor and Empress, the other day.
My result in London Paralympic Games is far from satisfactory.
I will retry the game after four years at Rio de Janeiro.
Thank you very much for your support.
Tomoyuki Nagao
JULY:
“Hurray! I won a spot at the London 2012 Paralympic Games!”
The NPC announced the team on 3rd. July and I will officially represent Japan in the Paralympics.
One of my dreams has come true at last.
Another of my dreams is getting a gold medal.
Toward my big dream, I keep on training with patience and not give up.
The other day, I enjoyed Karaoke with a swimming-fellow ― partly as a send-off party for Paralympics.
I sang a song and received much applause.
I will do my best, and continue my training during one month as possible to greet the cheering supporters.
JUNE:
“If I become a candidate for the Japanese national team in London Paralympics, I will swim at full speed, not to give up till the very end, especially the last 25m.”
The 15th Japan intellectual disabilities swimming event was held in Yokohama International swimming pool on 10th June.
At the lunch time, I made a speech as a candidate for the Japanese national team in London Paralympics toward supporters at the gallery. I used to make a speech such like this when I attended the international events. I am always nervous at my speech even through constant experience, but I feel that my thought is certainly conveyed to everyone.
Today, I would like to tell you about the result of the Japan intellectual disabilities swimming event.
I won the 50m backstroke in a meet record. However, I was not satisfied my record of 100m backstroke, and could not accept my result of the race. I reviewed the race with my coach and thought about many countermeasures.
I’ll do my best at Japan Paralympic Game in July in order to surpass the existing record.
I also attended 400m Medley relay in Japan intellectual disabilities swimming game. Four members of the relay did our best with the team spirit. Our team improved on the last year’s our record and got the silver medal.
If I am chosen as a Japan’s swimmers for the London Paralympic Games, I do hope l get the gold medal of 100 m backstroke, and repay the favor to the people those who have helped me.
I will train hard every day and try my best towards my dream.
The other day, I visited the newest landmark, “Tokyo Sky Tree”. The Tokyo Sky Tree is the world’s tallest free-standing radio tower (634 m) with observation deck. I went up to the highest observation deck, opened in May.
I feel that I got “a world best power” from the Tokyo Sky Tree.
MAY:
Today, I would like to tell you about recent event that made me happy.
I enjoy cooking when I have no swimming training. I have been interested in cooking for a long time. I used to cook only simple dish, but recently I cook curry and bake sweets and so on for my family.
Do you know a home cooking called ‘Nabe’??
Nabe: A type of Japanese food. Unseasoned ingredients (vegetables, fish, or meat) boiled in a pot and then dipped in the condiment. We cook a hot-pot at the table with a portable cooking stove, can pick the cooked stuff we want from the communal hot-pot. It is eaten in single individual’s small bowl on which food taken from shared serving dishes is placed with the broth or with a dip.
After the training camp, I enjoyed ‘Nabe party’ with my coaches of the swimming club the other day, because of a nutritional support and to raise my spirits toward the ‘All Japan swimming Championship’ in June.
‘Nabe’ is my favorite food. Looking back now, I realize that it was my power energy sources.
Then the delicious ‘Nabe dish’ was ready, I served it into a small bowl from a hot-pot for my coaches.
When I passed it each one, a coach said to me, “Thank you.”
The word “Thank you” makes my heart warm and beautiful.
I think that “thank you” is-whether you say it or you are said-the very happy word, it sounds a magic words.
It made me happy at this Nabe dish party, and I created warm relations between my coaches who ate together from the shared pot.
I treasure both short holiday and hard training.
Today, I swim toward my dreams and goals.
This month I was invited to the first camp for intensive training of the prospective Japanese swimming entrants of the London 2012 Paralympic Games was held in University of Tsukuba (Tsukuba city in Ibaragi) from April 13th to 15th.
I had been looking forward to attending this camp and it gave me a rush of motivation.
I had an extra reason to do well – I recently came second to my Japanese rival, at the Fuji competition on 11th March. I had been the Japanese champion for 2 years, but I was beaten at the Fuji competition due to health reasons.
“I was frustrated about losing. Very frustrated. I don’t ever want to lose !!”
In the gymnasium of Tsukuba University, I did an exercise designed to strengthen the abdominal and shoulder muscles, and strengthening for the lower half of the body. In the swimming pool, I trained hard, giving encouragement to team-mates.
I swam the freestyle and backstroke in a river pool with video to analyze the movement of a body.
I received special evaluation and instruction from my coach in order to achieve the perfect movement, watching the video.
It was the first time for me.
I swam with much determination and energy in the river pool, although it was cold.
This month I received a Special Award from the Japan Sports Association for the Disabled!
The reasons for the award were that I won two gold medals (50m & 100m backstroke) in the 3rd Inas Global Games at Loano in Italy in September 2011. This was the second year running that I won the award.
The award ceremony was held at a hotel in Odaiba, Tokyo and I travelled there by train. The journey made me sleepy but it released the tension at the award ceremony. I met some friends there too and and my seat in the ceremony’s hall was next to my friend – a track athlete.
Unfortunately though my health broke down in March. Like many people I suffered from influenza and gastroenteritis.
I learned that the health control was very important and now I have completely recovered from my illness and prepare for my next championships (May & June) by training hard.
This month I visited Shizuoka Prefecture (120 miles from Tokyo) to make a for Shizuoka Swimming Association for The Disabled.
The person in the picture is my coach who taught me how to swim for the first time. She also cooks meals after training every time, and checks nutritional balance and weight control. She is the person who understands me best and has always supported me.
Giving a speech in a lecture hall was a new experience for me. First I talked about my history – I started to swim aged 5 years 10 months old and was doing the the crawl by 7 years of age. My first swim event was at age 9.
I also talked about some of my hobbies and favourite foods, but I was getting nervous and tired, speaking on a microphone.
After the speech, I attended a swimming trial event where I felt much better as I could swim with my friends.
Swimming has enabled me to achieve many things which – such as giving the speech. It was a great experience for mental development and and I hope that it is these kind of things that will help me to get the gold medal in the London Paralympic Games.
JANUARY:
DECEMBER:
The year is fast drawing to a close. In 2011 I feel I moved forward by leaps and bounds.
In December I attended a training camp at Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka, famous for its Japanese tea and eel producing areas. I was with national teammates who attended some international events this year and some new pre-competitive members got together.
I swam hard and enjoyed training. And of course, I ate grilled eel which is famous dish in Hamamatsu, before the bullet train back from Hamamatsu.
The events and training schedule was hard though and I had little time for anything else such as origami, my favourite pasttime.
On 1st January I will be 17 years old! And of course 2012 is the Olympic year.
My goal is to set up the national flag of Japan on the center pole in London Paralympic Games!
All experiences are very precious.
I will also take part in the event organized by the Japan Swimming Federation for the Disable on 12th.-13th. December. This will be my last event in 2011.
Pork ramen (Noodle with a pork bone broth) is known as the specialty of Fukuoka and I have been dying to try it. It was very delicious!
I would like to tell you about the 3rd. INAS Global Games.
It was held in an outdoor swimming pool at Loano in Liguria, Italy. It was my first experience in an outdoor swimming pool.
Before the Games began, I was worried whether I could swim. ”I wish this global game were cancelled by the typhoon” I said grinning!!!
My best time (59.77) was in 100 meter Freestyle, as a starting swimmer of 4X100m Freestyle Relay. It made me very happy.
A Happy New Year! And, for me, a Happy Birthday!The Olympic year has come. 2012 is a challenge year for me.I would like to tell you about our training camp in Saipan Island the end of December on this blog. I visited the Saipan Island for training with a sightseeing trip to refresh and relax because I attended international events in overseas three times last year leaving me very tired.My favourite part was a visit to Mañagaha Island where it took about 10 minutes by motorboat. Mañagaha Island was a place as if time stopped, and it was great for relaxing. We circled the island on foot, and also, took pictures of many beautiful fishes on an underwater camera.The next day, we went the sightseeing on Saipan Island, and ate dinner looking at a fire dance show. I ate my favorite meat dishes a lot, of course, with vegetable too. I enjoyed watching a sky full of stars at the beach in the night, and was able to really relax, until one night when a very big frog suddenly appeared at my feet!!
