Ikee Finishes 7th in Women’s 50 Fly at Fukuoka Worlds
20:25 JST, July 29, 2023
Rikako Ikee, who survived a battle with leukemia to return to competitive swimming, finished seventh in the women’s 50-meter butterfly at the World Aquatics Championships on Saturday in Fukuoka.
Ikee clocked 25.78 seconds to finish nearly a second behind Sarah Sjoestrom, who won her fifth straight gold in the event in 24.77.
The 23-year-old Ikee was competing at the world championships for the first time since 2017. She qualified for Japan’s team in four individual events, but only made the final in the 50 butterfly in her bid for a first global medal.
Her amazing comeback from the illness was an inspiration to sports fans around the world, and included making the Japanese team to the Tokyo Olympics, although only as a member of relay teams.
Japan has won two swimming medals in the meet. Daiya Seto won a bronze in the men’s 400 individual medley, and Tomoru Honda placed third in the men’s 200 butterfly.
"Sports" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Shohei Ohtani Defied Ex-Interpreter’s Request to Cover Up Fraud, Report
-
Shohei Ohtani Makes Rare Public Appearance with Wife at Dodgers’ Charity Event
-
Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 6 Shutout Innings Help Dodgers Finish Sweep, Defeat Nats 2-1
-
Shohei Ohtani Hits 176 MLB Homers; the Most by a Japanese-Born Player Surpassing Hideki Matsui
-
Interest in Hosting Olympics ‘Never So High’, Says IOC Boss
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Japan, U.S., Philippines to Strengthen Nickel Supply Chains; Reduce Reliance on China for Critical Minerals
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’