Olympics-Swimming-Overcoming depression to double gold, Japan's Ohashi storms to medley double
28/07/2021 07:23
TOKYO, July 28 (Reuters) - Japan's Yui Ohashi was a
reluctant star after completing the individual medley double
with victory in the 200m on Wednesday, but she said her triumph
was reward for persevering when she struggled from depression
and wanted to give up swimming.
Ohashi, who won the 400m medley on Sunday, delighted home
fans once again by powering to gold ahead of U.S. swimmers Alex
Walsh and Kate Douglass.
Hungary's Katinka Hosszu had won both medley events in Rio
but she was not able to keep pace with Ohashi, finishing seventh
and nearly four seconds behind.
Ohashi let out a cheer and pumped her hand in the air after
touching the wall and she said it was still hard to believe she
was Olympic champion.
Asked at a news conference how she has coped with anxiety
and mental health issues in 2019, she said: "I had times when I
wanted to give up swimming, but I learned to accept it and
turned it into a strength."
Host nation Japan is enjoying a stellar Games, currently
sitting top of the medal table with 11 golds, and Ohashi said
her two gold medals were just one part of that success.
"Many, many people are overjoyed. I can hear them, and I am
very happy for their support," she said. "It’s not really just
me, I don’t really feel like I am a star.
"To be honest it still feels surreal," she added.
Ohashi's feat comes after Japan's 13-year-old Momiji Nishiya
clinched the Olympic title in the women's street skateboarding
competition on Monday.
"Everyone is doing so great. Across sports I feel very
inspired."
Ohashi said she was able to use her past five years of
experience to succeed in Tokyo and it helped her to swim her own
race. She thanked her coach with whom she said there had been
clashes in the past over what kind of race she wanted to swim.
"Even when I was at my worst, he always supported me, I am
most grateful."
(Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Peter Rutherford
)
((farah.master@thomsonreuters.com; +852 3462 7709;))