Office for Sports Promotion

【profile】
Yuuka Ishigaki February 1999, XNUMX Graduated from Tokyo Metropolitan Honjo High School Currently enrolled at Hosei University
National Athletic Meet Quadruple 2016th place (XNUMX)
World Junior Rowing Championships Double Scull 11th overall (2017)

~I want to aim for the top in sports.I decided to jump into the world of boats. ~

Yuka Ishigaki was active as a track and field athlete in the 100m and 100m hurdles during her junior high school days.However, she was not able to achieve the results she had hoped for, and was wondering whether she would continue to participate in track and field after entering high school.
At that time, he applied for the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Top Athlete Discovery and Development Project (*1), was recognized as a fourth-year student, and discovered rowing.Originally, Ishigaki had a strong desire to see a higher level in the world of sports.Unlike track and field events, which are individual events, rowing events are team events.He was drawn to the idea of ​​competing in a way he had never experienced before, aiming for the top with someone else, and decided to switch to rowing without hesitation. (*2)

The switch to rowing had a big impact on her entrance into high school and university.
　Before switching to competitive sports, he had lost sight of his goals and was worried about going to high school, but after discovering rowing, he found a new goal and was able to easily decide on a high school.Discovering boats during this period was a major turning point.

~ A year of practicing with the support of those around me and my frustrations as a springboard. ~

Ishigaki, who decided to switch to rowing, has been training hard to become stronger.However, the more he devoted himself to boating, the more he faced the challenge of balancing his studies with his studies.
During high school, I prioritized rowing practice over studies, so I wasn't able to take many classes.At that time, her classmates and close friends lent her strength.She lent me her class notes and taught me things while studying with me before tests.
“If I didn't have friends who reached out and supported me, I wouldn't be where I am today, let alone be able to balance my studies with my studies.”
Ishigaki's current success is due to the support of those around him.

Additionally, a frustrating experience she had during her third year of high school has led to her current success.
　Among the athletes who took up rowing as part of the Top Athlete Discovery and Development Project, Ishigaki was the only one who was not selected as a ``Tokyo Athlete Certified Athlete.''
“At that time, I was really disappointed.”
For the next year, he used his frustration as a springboard to train hard with the goal of being selected as a ``Tokyo Athlete Certified Athlete.''
"I was really happy when I was selected as this year's certified athlete. I think I learned from this moment that hard work doesn't lie."
Ishigaki said with a smile.

~And on to the world stage. Experience the joy that lies beyond the pain of fighting. ~

In August of this year, Ishigaki competed in the World Junior Championship for the first time.
For Ishigaki, who went on to university and was selected as a member of the U19 national team and a Tokyo Athlete Certified Player, he became aware of himself as an athlete aiming to compete in the world, and has worked hard to practice with a different approach than before. My desire to hang out was stronger than anyone else's.
The Japan national team's training incorporates B1 training, which is popular in France and other countries.This training involves managing the rotational speed of the oars, improving the quality of each oar, and also thoroughly controlling the heart rate.You have to keep your heart rate high and at a low rate, which is harder than it looks.It was a completely different way of fighting and a new challenge for Ishigaki, who had until now fought using only his physical strength.

Even Ishigaki, who practices hard and doesn't usually get nervous before a match, couldn't hide his nervousness as he faced the big wall of the world.
“At the World Junior Championships, there were many athletes who were several times bigger than me, and even before the race I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere in the venue and the momentum of the athletes.”
The night before the match, I was overcome with a sense of nervousness that I had never felt before, both the fear of jumping into an unknown world and the faces of the people who had supported me and cheered me on.However, on the day of the tournament, I wonder where the nerves from last night will go.
“We went into the match feeling excited and wondering how far we could go against players from around the world with the skills we had cultivated through practice.”

At this World Junior Championship (*3), they have been practicing hard with the goal of making it to the B final (a ranking match to determine XNUMXth to XNUMXth place).In order to achieve that goal, she entered the quarterfinals with a strong determination that she "couldn't lose."
Top XNUMX will advance to the semi-finals.XNUMXrd place in qualifying time. It was a very tough race and I couldn't let my guard down as I didn't have a comfortable second difference with the XNUMXth place rider.
``It was a very tough battle, but after finishing in third place, the strongest feeling was that it was fun.''
Mental strength also seems to be one of Ishigaki's strengths.

~ A solid response to compete on the world stage.Then move on to the next stage. ~

Up until now, it has been said that Japanese athletes lack physical strength and have a weak last spurt.However, at this World Junior Championship, Ishigaki felt that even though it was tough during the race, he had plenty of stamina and the last spurt was world-class, and that the quality of his fighting style had improved. It seems so.
Ishigaki realizes that he is now in a position where he can compete on an equal footing with athletes around the world, and is already looking ahead to the next stage.
``The excitement and loud cheering at the venue (of the World Junior Championships) was just so much fun.I also really wanted to stand on an international stage like this.The Asian Junior Championships (*4) are coming up in October. So I want to practice even harder so I can get good results.”

Ishigaki's passion for competition will continue with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
"Maybe I won't be able to make it to Japan's national team in 2020, but I will continue to practice hard every day, believing that it will lead to the next Olympics."
I'm looking forward to seeing Ishigaki's future activities.

~Yuka Ishigaki's match meal! ~

Ishigaki loves food so much that on his days off, he doesn't think about the competition and goes out eating around with his clubmates and friends.Ishigaki's winning meal is simply ``meal prepared daily by the club's manager.''In particular, he has a charming side, saying, ``On days when I fried chicken with Korean-style sweet sauce, I get excited and put more effort into my practice!''In addition, Ishigaki's rowing club appears to have good relations among first-year to fourth-year students, as they sometimes have meals together at their seniors' homes.

~ Highlights of rowing competitions recommended by Ishigaki ~

One thing that surprised me at the World Championships was that each boat was equipped with a device that measured the boat's rate, and spectators could follow the progress of the winners and losers by watching it.If you look at the measurements, you can roughly tell which team will win, but it's a world tournament.The results can be surprising, and you can't help but be glued to the race.And, of course, the highlight of the rowing competition is the "last spurt."It's a competition where the outcome is determined by a difference of one second, so you can't take your eyes off the finish line.Please pay attention to the last spurt just before the goal.

(*1) Top athlete discovery and development project
https://www.sports-tokyo.info/tokyojrathlete.html

(*2) I want to know more about rowing competitions! !
https://www.2020games.metro.tokyo.jp/taikaijyunbi/taikai/syumoku/games-olympics/rowing/index.html

Japan Rowing Association (Public Incorporated Foundation)http://www.jara.or.jp/

(*3) About how Ishigaki won the World Junior Championship JW2x (women's double sculls) in which she participated.
Preliminary Top XNUMX advance to Quarterfinal
Quarterfinals XNUMXrd place advances to Semifinal A/B
Semi-finals A/B XNUMXrd place goes to Final A, XNUMXth to XNUMXth place goes to Final B
⇒ Final overall XNUMXth place

(*4) Let's all support Ishigaki's success at the "Asia Junior Championship"!
The 2017 Asian Junior Championships will be held in Singapore from October XNUMXth (Wednesday) to November XNUMXth (Saturday).