2020 Tokyo Special Swimming Tourney: Ikee Among Ones To Watch

2020 TOKYO SPECIAL SWIMMING TOURNAMENT

  • Saturday, August 29th & Sunday, August 30th
  • Tatsumi International Swimming Centre
  • LCM (50m)
  • Timed Finals
  • Entries (in Japanese)

As with most of the swimming community, Japanese swimmers have been void of racing opportunities for quite some time due to the coronavirus pandemic. The nation’s key Olympic qualifying event, the Japan Swim, was originally slated for April but was canceled upon the announcement that the 2020 Olympic Games would be postponed to 2021.

There have been prefectural-level meets taking place recently, including the Niigata Summer Club Challange, which saw Naoki Mizunuma posted Japan’s 4th fastest 100m fly performance ever with his 51.26 stunner.

But we now have another meet on the short horizon, as the Tokyo Special Swimming Tournament gest underway this weekend with some big names on the docket.

The meet is a special production of the Tokyo Swimming Association to give swimmers an opportunity to compete after lost meets and practices due to the coronavirus pandemic. Multi-Olympic gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima, now Chairman of the Tokyo Swimming Association, says of the meet, “I want children and seniors to have peace of mind with proper guidelines” in terms of controlling as much of the health and safety of the environment at the meet as possible.

Top Swimmers to Watch:

  • Rikako IkeeAs we reported, 20-year-old leukemia survivor Ikee is entered in the 50m freestyle this weekend. Any finish will be an inspirational accomplishment for the 2018 Asian Games MVP who has only been back in the water since earlier this year after nearly a year in the hospital.
  • Ryosuke Irie – The seemingly never-slowing-down mainstay of elite international backstroke, 30-year-old Irie is set to contest the men’s 100m and 200m backstroke events.
  • Junya Koga – Once banned Koga seeks redemption as one of the entrants, with the man expected to race the 50m and 100m back, as we reported.
  • Shinri Shioura – The national record holder in the men’s 50m free will be taking on that event, as well as the 100m free.
  • Rio Shirai – The versatile rising star is entered in the 200m free and 100m back this weekend in Tokyo. After a standout 2019 which saw Shirai hit a PB of 2:07.37 in the 200m back, she recently made her mark at the Hyogo Prefectural Championships.
  • Takeharu Fujimori – Having served his 4-month suspension for a positive doping test, Fujimori will make his racing return this weekend as well, contesting the 50m free and 200m IM.

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Awsi Dooger
3 years ago

This is fantastic. I’m glad I came here and saw this news.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

The objective for Rikako Ikee, who incidentally posted a 56.08 in the final of the women’s 100 meter butterfly at 2018 Pan Pacs, is to knock Emma McKeon off the podium in the women’s 100 meter butterfly at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The whole world will be cheering for Rikako Ikee to make a full comeback.

Last edited 3 years ago by Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Aquajosh
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

What exactly do you have against Emma McKeon?

Admin
Reply to  Aquajosh
3 years ago

I didn’t read the comment as him having a problem with Emma. I read it as “Sjostrom and MacNeil are a lock for the podium, so if her goal is to make it on the podium, she’s gotta beat McKeon.”

But, I’m sure SKDM will be back to explain theirself.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Braden Keith
3 years ago

You also forgot to post the time of 56.47 in the women’s 100 meter butterfly by 22 year old Zhang Yufei this summer.

https://swimswam.com/zhang-yufei-clocks-monster-56-47-100-fly-for-unofficial-lifetime-best/

Last edited 3 years ago by Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Aquajosh
3 years ago

Read the comments section from the 8 Day Fantasy Summer Olympics.

Missed
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

You do realise that your hatred of Aussie swimmers just means that no one treats your comments seriously ?
Having said that, I am cheering for Ikee like everyone else.

Last edited 3 years ago by Missed
Jason
Reply to  Missed
3 years ago

The guy also has a grudge against Dahlia don’t worry

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Jason
3 years ago

2019 Toyota U.S. Open Championships
Women’s Events (LCM)
100 FL
Huske (DOB 12/07/2002) – 57.48
Dahlia (DOB 07/15/1994) – 57.96

Last edited 3 years ago by Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Smith-King--Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Missed
3 years ago

2016 Rio Olympics
Women’s Events (LCM)
100 FL
Ikee – 56.86
McKeon – 57.05

In the final of the women’s 100 meter butterfly at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, a 16 year old Rikako Ikee beat out a 22 year old Emma McKeon for 5th place. Don’t let the FACTS get in the way of the comments section.

Smith-King--Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Missed
3 years ago

The link below is especially for you:

https://youtu.be/Nfp_V3vZfpg

Taa
3 years ago

Over/under on Ikee’s 50 time? I’ll set it at 26.50.

YaYeeter
Reply to  Taa
3 years ago

I think we’re just all happy to see her swim, regardless of the time. No offense whatsoever intended on your comment.

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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