Japan reinvigorated for Paris 2024 as 100-day countdown begins
The countdown has begun.
Now officially on the clock, Japanese Olympic sport athletes due to be headed for Paris 2024 spoke of their determination to win the shiniest medal on offer at the Games as they spoke to media on Wednesday (17 April), 100 days before the Opening Ceremony.
“The only medal we’re thinking about is a gold,” said men’s volleyball spiker Nishida Yuji, sporting the Japanese delegation’s sunrise-coloured Games kit unveiled at a Tokyo press conference.
“We only have 100 days left to make sure we are ready.”
At the last Olympic Games three years ago on home soil in Tokyo under the cloud of the global pandemic, Japan won a total of 58 medals including 27 golds - their best tally ever.
Fans will be back at the Games this summer, a point mentioned by many Japanese athletes who have secured their quota at Paris such as Hashimoto Daiki, two-time gold medallist in men’s gymnastics.
At Tokyo 2020, the general public was not admitted as part of the Games’ coronavirus countermeasures.
“There were no fans in Tokyo but there will be in Paris so I’m really looking forward to it,” said Hashimoto, who is coming off winning a fourth consecutive title at the All-Japan All-Around Championships this weekend.
“At the last Olympics we settled for silver in the team event so this time, I want three golds - in the team, all-around and horizontal bar.
“Putting on this track suit reminds me how hard I have to work over the next three months. I’m a little tired today because I was competing three days ago but I’m shaping up really well and training really well. I just need to keep this up for Paris.”
*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.