Ikee Rikako at Paris doorsteps with top time in 100m fly heats
Ikee Rikako put one foot through the door to her third Olympic Games by topping the women’s 100m butterfly semi-finals on the first day of the Japanese swimming trials in Tokyo on Sunday (17 March).
Ikee qualified first for Monday’s final a Tokyo Aquatics Centre in 57.03 - her fastest time since returning to competition in August 2020 following a bout with leukemia.
Tanned and looking visibly stronger since relocating to Australia late last year to join Michael Bohl’s team, Ikee’s time on this night would have been good enough to meet the Japanese qualifying standard of 57.34 for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
With bigger fish to fry, Ikee, though, is eyeing a 56 here. She is the national record-holder of 56.08 which she set in August 2018.
“Obviously my goal here is to qualify but I want a 56 here just as much,” the 23-year-old said. “I do want to compete at my third Olympics of course but ever since I went to Australia, I feel stronger than ever about wanting to be the best in the world. I want to get through these eight days with that in mind.
“I was saying a 57.3 would be good enough but deep down inside I thought I might do a 56. But today was a good semi-final for a 56 in the next race.
“I’m trying not to live and die with each swim. Today was a good day but that’s not where my bar is so I’m not going to let up.”
Ikee only qualified for Tokyo 2020 in the relays. She said she was never expecting to make the team in the individual events anyway but Paris is a whole different story.
“I think I’ll be really nervous tomorrow,” Ikee said. “There are a few who have been coming on really strong and It should be a tough race. But I have faith in the work I’ve put in.
“For the Tokyo Olympics, I went into the trials thinking I wouldn’t qualify. The motivation level for a meet you’re dying to get to and for one you have doubts about is night and day.
“It might be easier if you think you don’t stand a chance but I like to think my mindset right now is a sign of growth.”
