Gakuta Koike

Gakkun, George (Athlete, 16 Feb 2014, 21 Dec 2012)

Competing at every Paralympic Winter Games between 2006 and 2018. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018)

Japanese Para alpine skier Hiraku Misawa. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018)

Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira, German Para alpine skier Gerd Schonfelder. (Athlete, 10 Mar 2018)

In 2016 he damaged the meniscus in his knee while training in Chile. (sports.jtb.co.jp, 06 Nov 2016)

He injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in January 2007 and August 2009. (Athlete, 16 Feb 2014)

In February 2006 he underwent a costotransversectomy [spinal surgery]. (Athlete, 16 Feb 2014)

"Believe in my possibilities." (city.kita.tokyo.jp, 23 May 2018)

In 2007 he received the Nagano Prefecture Sport Honorary Award in Japan. (nagano-sports.or.jp, 2007)

He has also represented Japan in Para cycling. (alamy.com, 11 Apr 2015; jtb.co.jp, 02 Aug 2018)

To win a medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (jtb.co.jp, 05 Nov 2020)

He was involved a motorcycle accident at age 20, which resulted in paralysis of his left arm. (sajd.com, 01 Dec 2016; Athlete, 16 Feb 2014)

CHANGE OF SPORT
After the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, he switched sports from Para alpine skiing to Para cycling with a view to competing at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He returned to Para alpine skiing in March 2020 with the aim of winning a medal at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. "Since the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, I have been challenging in Para cycling competition aiming for the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. However, after missing a quota place in track for the 2020 Paralympics, I decided to finish this challenge. I want to try again as a Para alpine skier. I can still fight on skis. I can get results. I want to challenge the world's best again. I decided to aim for the next Winter Paralympics in Beijing." (city.kita.tokyo.jp, 23 May 2018; blog.ap.teacup.com, 24 Nov 2018; jtb.co.jp, 05 Nov 2020, jtb.co.jp, 07 Aug 2020)