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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
S5, SB4, SM5
Further personal information
Residence
Kawasaki, JPN
Occupation
Office Worker
Languages
Japanese
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began Para swimming in 1994 and started competing the same year.
Why this sport?
Some of her friends encouraged her to participate in a Para swimming competition as part of a relay team.
Club / Team
Yokohama Sakura Swimming School : Japan
Name of coach
Takumi Uegaki [national], JPN; Masayuki Horikoshi [personal], JPN, from 2014
Training Regime
She trains every day, covering at least three kilometres per day.
General interest
Nicknames
Queen of Water, Ma-chan (sports.nhk.or.jp, 17 Jul 2019; nhk.or.jp, 08 Sep 2015; IPC, 30 Nov 2009)
Hobbies
Cooking. (Athlete, 11 Sep 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement
Competing at her fifth Paralympic Games in 2016. (Athlete, 11 Sep 2019)
Hero / Idol
German Para swimmer Kay Espenhayn. (Athlete, 06 Sep 2016, 11 Sep 2019)
Injuries
In 2008 she was affected by a hip joint injury and spent time in hospital recovering from the condition. She left hospital 10 days before the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. (sankei.com, 21 Aug 2015)
In January 2006 she had problems with her hip joint. She had three operations and stayed in a hospital for 20 months. (yomiuri.co.jp, 21 May 2008)
She suffered a shoulder injury after the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. (number.bunshun.jp, 18 Nov 2019)
In January 2006 she had problems with her hip joint. She had three operations and stayed in a hospital for 20 months. (yomiuri.co.jp, 21 May 2008)
She suffered a shoulder injury after the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. (number.bunshun.jp, 18 Nov 2019)
Awards and honours
She was one of three torch bearers to bring the Paralympic flame into the stadium at the opening ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Paralympic Games YouTube channel, 24 Aug 2021; japan-forward.com, 24 Aug 2021)
She was named 2005 Female Athlete of the Year by the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. (paralympic.org, 25 Oct 2005)
In 2000 she was presented with the Prime Minister's Honorary Award in Japan. (hochi.co.jp, 03 Jul 2016)
In 1996 she was given the Kawasaki Citizen Honorary Award in Japan. (hochi.co.jp, 03 Jul 2016)
She received the Kawasaki Sports Award in 1995. (seiwabl.co.jp, 2004)
She was named 2005 Female Athlete of the Year by the International Paralympic Committee [IPC]. (paralympic.org, 25 Oct 2005)
In 2000 she was presented with the Prime Minister's Honorary Award in Japan. (hochi.co.jp, 03 Jul 2016)
In 1996 she was given the Kawasaki Citizen Honorary Award in Japan. (hochi.co.jp, 03 Jul 2016)
She received the Kawasaki Sports Award in 1995. (seiwabl.co.jp, 2004)
Ambitions
To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (hochi.news, 06 Mar 2021)
Impairment
She has used a wheelchair since age 13 due to myelitis, a condition that causes inflammation of the spinal cord. Later, a car accident in 1994 resulted in quadriplegia. (IPC brochure, 2008; Athlete, 11 Sep 2019)
Other information
MISSING LONDON 2012
After the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, she spent the next four years in and out of hospital due to injuries and medical conditions, and was not able to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. During this time she decided to focus on other activities, which included serving as an executive board member for the Organising Committee of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She returned to competition in November 2014, because she wanted to inspire young Para athletes ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games. "There are messages that you can send only as an athlete. Swimming is the only thing I can do. If I can make people pay more attention to the Paralympic Games by swimming, I'm willing to work harder." (number.bunshun.jp, 11 Nov 2019; kanpara.com, 27 Jun 2015; yomiuri.co.jp, 21 May 2008)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as an ambassador to Kawasaki Citizens Culture, a visiting researcher at the Sports Science Research Institute of Nippon Sport Science University, and as a vice president of the Kanto Swimming Federation for the Disabled in Japan. (number.bunshun.jp, 11 Nov 2019; kanpara.com, 01 Sep 2016; Athlete, 06 Sep 2016; kanpara.com, 27 Jun 2015)
OCCUPATION
She works for Nippon TV in Japan. (asahi.com, 27 Apr 2020)
After the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, she spent the next four years in and out of hospital due to injuries and medical conditions, and was not able to compete at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. During this time she decided to focus on other activities, which included serving as an executive board member for the Organising Committee of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. She returned to competition in November 2014, because she wanted to inspire young Para athletes ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games. "There are messages that you can send only as an athlete. Swimming is the only thing I can do. If I can make people pay more attention to the Paralympic Games by swimming, I'm willing to work harder." (number.bunshun.jp, 11 Nov 2019; kanpara.com, 27 Jun 2015; yomiuri.co.jp, 21 May 2008)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as an ambassador to Kawasaki Citizens Culture, a visiting researcher at the Sports Science Research Institute of Nippon Sport Science University, and as a vice president of the Kanto Swimming Federation for the Disabled in Japan. (number.bunshun.jp, 11 Nov 2019; kanpara.com, 01 Sep 2016; Athlete, 06 Sep 2016; kanpara.com, 27 Jun 2015)
OCCUPATION
She works for Nippon TV in Japan. (asahi.com, 27 Apr 2020)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S5 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 1 | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 150 m Individual Medley SM4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 4x50 m Medley 20 pts | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 150 m Individual Medley SM4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 150 m Medley SM4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 150 m Medley SM4 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 150 m Medley SM4 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 150 m Medley SM4 | Heats | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Women's 50 m Breaststroke SB3 | Heats | 5 | ||
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S4 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 200 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S4 | Final Round | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB4 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-11 | 5 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Final Round | 2016-09-12 | 5 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-12 | 2 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final Round | 2016-09-15 | 6 | |
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 7 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Heat 1 | 2016-09-16 | 2 | |
| Women's 50 m Backstroke S5 | Final Round | 2016-09-16 | 5 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S5 | Final Round | 2016-09-17 | 7 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S5 | Heat 2 | 2016-09-17 | 4 |