All-Japan All-Around Championships 2024 - Rock-solid Miyata Shoko leads women's qualification: 'This is far from over'
Miyata Shoko has moved one step closer to her first All-Japan Gymnastics All-Around Championship title on Thursday (11 April) after qualifying in top position for the women’s final this weekend.
Eyeing her maiden trip to the Olympic Games this summer at Paris 2024, Miyata put together an error-free 54.966 across the four events at the Takasaki Arena in Gunma Prefecture to cruise into Saturday’s final.
Fifteen-year-old junior world all-around champion Nakamura Haruka was second with 53.966, followed by Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sugihara Aiko in third (53.432) and Kishi Rina fourth (53.232).
“I can’t let up yet because it’s only qualifying,” Miyata said. “I’m still unsettled. I wouldn’t say I was unsure of myself but there were some nerves on the first day of a big competition like this.
“But I think I managed it well and got through all four events in one piece, which was reassuring.”
Miyata Shoko: From tears to smiles one year later
Miyata was night and day compared to last year, when she competed at the meet with a stress fracture in her right heel that could have derailed her career.
While she was in tears from the pain and emotional distress a year ago, the 19-year-old hasn’t been able to stop smiling this week.
Five women will be selected for the Games via these championships and next month’s NHK Trophy, and Miyata is currently at the top of the list.
“This is not over, far from it,” she said. “I wasn’t at my absolute best today but I didn’t make any mistakes.
“I was able to do what I had to do because I have a stronger heart now and I’ll take that into the day after tomorrow. I just need to stay calm.”
Defending champion Watanabe Hazuki, only seven months removed from an ACL tear in her left knee, was visibly in pain at times and finished 47th overall (47.933), missing the cut - and having her Olympic hopes dashed.
The 2022 balance beam world champion wore a brave smile afterwards as tears streamed down her face.
“I never saw myself competing here so I’m just glad I got through it,” said Watanabe, who had revealed she was at risk of re-tearing her ACL by competing here.
“It’s been a while since the last time I was on all four apparatus. There was some pain, especially on the floor.”
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.