Ikee Rikako to swim in four events at Japanese Nationals
The Japanese swim star, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2019, will compete in the 50m and 100 freestyle, the 50m and 100m butterfly.
Swimming
Swim star Ikee Rikako has entered four events at next month's Japanese Championships as she continues her comeback from leukaemia.
The 20-year-old is set to compete in the 50m and 100m freestyle as well as the 100m butterfly and the non-Olympic 50m butterfly according to her management.
Ikee has always played down her ambition of being at the Tokyo Games since starting her comeback last year after being diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2019.
The 3-10 April national championships at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre serve as Olympic qualifier, and Ikee will secure a spot in the Tokyo Games if she finishes in the top two and meets the entry time.
"My goal is to reach the final of every event I have entered at the national championships," she said in a statement.
"The results of this meet will depend on how much confidence I can build in everyday practice, so I want to train hard for it."
Ikee created global headlines by winning the 50m butterfly at last month's Tokyo Open. It was her first victory since launching her comeback.