Office for Sports Promotion

【profile】
Ryu Watanabe Born July 1996, 7 Studied at Rikkyo University
Universiade 5000m relay 4th place (2017)

Armed with the confidence she gained from studying abroad in Korea, she aims to participate in the Olympics, which is her long-cherished desire!

~Decided to switch to competitive sports after meeting a coach~

Ru Watanabe started roller skating at the age of 6 at the urging of his father.Her first encounter with short track speed skating (hereinafter referred to as short track) was when she was in the fourth grade of elementary school.She started incorporating it as part of her roller skating training.She felt that the speed she could achieve on short track was completely different from that on roller skates, and she felt a sense of speed and a great feeling of cutting through the wind.Due to the exhilaration and fun of her experience, she initially learned the sport on her own while being taught by her father, who was also an experienced skater, but she gradually developed an interest in roller skating. I started to balance short track competition.
 Although he was selected to represent Japan in roller skating, he was unable to achieve the results he had hoped for.At the same time, he felt the limits of short track practice without a coach, so when he was in the first year of junior high school, he joined a short track club team in Tokyo to receive formal instruction.His encounter with a coach there led to a major change in his competitive life.

Under the guidance of an experienced coach, he received advice from various angles, including weaknesses that he had not noticed before and how to correct them, and has grown to the point where he can achieve results in short track competitions.He began to find short tracks truly ``interesting and fun,'' and before he knew it, he wanted to compete on short tracks.
“Ever since I was little, my family and I have been watching live Olympic games, and I had a vague desire to compete someday.In short track, the more I tried, the more I was happy to get good results, and since it was an Olympic sport, I got more and more into it. With that in mind, he began his career as a short track athlete, aiming for his clear dream of participating in the Olympics.

~My first appearance at the World Championship, which gave me an opportunity to rethink the way I compete~

After focusing on short track, he quickly rose to prominence and competed in the World Junior Championships in Poland for the first time in his first year of high school.However, living away from his parents' home was confusing.
``This was the first time I realized that normally when I got home, my food was ready, my laundry was done, and I was able to live without any inconvenience.Even though I had come all the way to Poland to win the match, I was not able to survive in the environment. It was the first match that made me realize that I can't be a player who is influenced by my differences.''
He also keenly realized the difference in skill level and physical strength compared to foreign players.
"Even though they were the same age, I couldn't hide my surprise at how completely different their physiques were, including the way they built their muscles. Because of their muscular strength, each step of their skating was big, and their top speed was also very fast. Rather than feeling frustrated, I was surprised to find that their physiques were completely different, including the way their muscles were built. I thought I had to work harder to win in the competition.”
After returning to Japan, he told his coach exactly what he felt at the tournament and completely changed his practice.He worked hard to build his body and improve his skills to compete on the world stage.

“When I participated in the World Junior Championship for the first time, I experienced various things and realized that it was fun to compete in the world.That's why I wanted to improve my level and participate in the World Junior Championship again and leave a good result. remained strong.”
At the same tournament the following year as revenge, he brilliantly broke a new Japanese record and demonstrated his ability to compete on the world stage.

~The new barrier of balancing work with schoolwork~

Every day, we aim for even greater heights by expanding our arena of competition from Japan to the world.He was also selected as a designated player for the national training program, and faced the new challenge of balancing his studies with his studies.There are more training camps and international matches than ever before.As I was unable to attend more and more classes and was unable to study for tests, my friends, who have always supported me, reached out to me.

``It's no exaggeration to say that I wouldn't be where I am today without my friends, such as lending me my notes for classes I couldn't attend, and studying with me and teaching me before tests. I am grateful."

Also, having a family that always backs me up is a big factor.Ever since she started roller skating, her father has taken her to and from the practice area every day without fail, and when she returns home from practice, her mother's home-cooked meals prepared with nutritional benefits in mind are on the table.

Also, my younger sister Aoi, who is also a nationally designated short track athlete, works hard every day.She always encourages each other by talking about competitions, watching each other's games, and cheering each other on.
“I believe that I have been able to get to where I am today because of the support of those around me.My family, friends, and coaches.I am thankful for them every day, and I think that producing results is my way of repaying them. I'm practicing hard."

~ Confidence and new goals gained through studying abroad in Korea ~

Watanabe, back row, far left, at Korean training camp

When he was in his second year of university, he decided to take a leave of absence and study abroad in South Korea with the aim of participating in the Pyeongchang Olympics.He trained as a warrior on a team that included many of the world's strongest players, including Olympic participants and players who won the overall championship at the World Junior Championships.Unlike Japan, he immersed himself in an environment where world-class athletes worked hard together.
``By practicing with players who are always aiming for the top, I have become highly motivated.Up until now, even though I had the ability, I always had the negative feeling of ``I might lose next time...'' It was easy for me to fall into negative thinking, and I think that affected the result of the match.However, studying abroad in South Korea and enduring up to four practices a day in a good environment supported me, and I thought, ``I don't want to practice so much.'' I am now able to always think positively, thinking, ``I'm sure I can win because of what I've done.''

After studying abroad in South Korea, he improved more than once and gained confidence in his own playing ability.Although he fell just short of qualifying for the PyeongChang Olympics, he has already started moving towards new goals.
“Honestly, I was very disappointed when I missed out on the PyeongChang Olympics.However, when I saw three athletes who had been in the same training environment in South Korea participating in the PyeongChang Olympics and doing well, I was very disappointed. I gained confidence that all the training I had done up until now was not in vain.Although I couldn't participate this time, I felt even stronger with my friends who I practiced with, saying, ``Next time, I want to go with them!''First of all, My goal is to win the national selection tournament (*3) in September of next season in the most recent competition and be selected to represent Japan.Also, my goal is to win a medal at the Beijing Olympics in four years' time!
Watanabe has been steadily gaining strength while traveling back and forth between Japan and South Korea.It won't be long before his quiet fighting spirit, which can be seen in his sharp eyes, and his tireless daily efforts will bloom.

～Highlights of the competition and your own strengths～

Watanabe's strength is his ability to maintain power.It is no ordinary feat to be able to stay in the lead from the start to the finish line and run away.This is because short track is so exciting that it is often referred to as ``keirin on ice,'' and the outcome is determined by quick maneuvers.Furthermore, in addition to this, Watanabe has the power to outrun everyone from the outside with a single burst of power, giving him a sense of stability that allows him to recover until the very end no matter how the race develops.He is proud of the fact that he has a lot of potential to win in this sport, which requires him to make instantaneous decisions based on the dynamics of the race.

``It's easy to understand and interesting to watch short-track races where no one can overtake you.However, the first and second runners are skating while blocking the course to avoid being overtaken. One of the best parts of short track speed skating is watching the strategies used to avoid being overtaken, so I want you to pay close attention to it."

~How Watanabe spends his days off~

Watanabe has been studying skating in South Korea since last year. He practices hard every day, up to four times a day, and on his days off, he goes to a Korean-style sauna called "Jjimjilbang" to relieve his body fatigue.
``On holidays, I often go to jjimjilbang to recover from fatigue.The facility is integrated with a hot spring, so I spend about four hours in the sauna and hot spring to refresh myself.''

~ Pre-game routine work and competitive meals ~

Watanabe doesn't purposely decide on a routine that he always performs before a match.He strives to create an environment that is not tied to a routine so that he can adapt to any situation.

``I always put my feelings at the moment first and try to do the best I can.Also, before a match, I carefully check about 6 types of skating movements that I am not good at in the warm-up room to relieve my anxiety. I’m in the game.”
Furthermore, Watanabe, who cooked for himself every day while studying abroad in Korea, said that his go-to meal was ``curry and rice.''He practices until late every day and goes to bed when he gets home, so curry and rice, which can be made ahead of time and eaten in a hearty manner, is a strong ally.
``I try to cook at home instead of eating out to keep my body and nutrition in mind.Since I am cooking for the first time since studying abroad, I have been making more and more one-dish dishes such as meat and curry that are easy and powerful. I did.”
In addition, his cooking skills seem to be improving, as his specialty is “pork sauce.”

Watanabe will return to university in April after completing his studies in South Korea, but he still regularly travels to South Korea to practice.He is also thinking about his career prospects as he enters his third year of college.
“Until now, I have been able to concentrate on my sport with the dedicated support of my family, but after graduation, I am thinking of living an independent life as both an athlete and a person.Of course. I want to continue competing, so I would like to use Asnavi (*2) to search for jobs."

At the PyeongChang Olympics, which are still fresh in our memories, Japanese athletes wowed the world. We have high hopes for Watanabe, who will help further enliven the winter sports and raise the level of Japan as we head towards the Beijing Olympics in four years' time.

*1 29th All Japan Short Track Speed ​​Skating Distance Championships
(Details such as venue and schedule are confirmed around June every year)

*2 Asnavi...A free employment placement project conducted by the Japanese Olympic Committee (public interest incorporated foundation)
https://www.joc.or.jp/about/athnavi/

Japan Skating Federation official website
http://skatingjapan.or.jp/short/rule.html