We interviewed Yusuke Shimizu of Bourbon Water Polo Club Kashiwazaki, who participated in the Tokyo Olympics as a representative of Japan for water polo. How did you see the success of Yamada, a third-year junior high school student in Agano City, who won the silver medal in the Paralympic swimming?[Yusuke Shimizu]”As a player who fought in the same place, I think it’s amazing to be able to swim with a smile because I know the difficulty of winning medals, and the news that is good for the prefecture has come in. I think. I think you can expect medals in the future, but I want you to enjoy swimming without feeling pressure. “And two weeks have passed since the end of the Tokyo Olympics. How are you feeling now after returning to Kashiwazaki?[Yusuke Shimizu]”I think I’ve finally returned to a place where I can calm down, and everyone in Kashiwazaki City, the prefecture, said,” I was supporting you. Thank you for your impression. ” Looking back on the tournament, Japan unfortunately lost the qualifying league, but won the final match against South Africa for the first time in 37 years. What kind of victory was this victory for Japan and for Shimizu?[Yusuke Shimizu]”It was the last match I knew I couldn’t make it to the final league, but I felt that this one win was important for the future growth of the Japanese waterball world. It was the first victory in 37 years, so we took a big step. ”Shimizu also scored a spirited goal.[Yusuke Shimizu]”This match was a match where I felt love because the players and staff thought,’Let’s make me score points and win,’ so I got stronger myself.” Shimizu, who announced his retirement as a representative for the tournament only, overcame an injury on his left shoulder and entered this tournament.[Yusuke Shimizu]”The first thing I was told was that I was in the first year of healing. I had never returned as a top player in the sport of throwing this injury, so I myself said,” I’m retired. ” I had a strong feeling that all of Yusuke Shimizu was lost. “Q. How did you overcome it? “There was a lot of attention as the captain of the Rio Olympics, but as soon as I got injured, everyone suddenly left and thought that I had no existence at all. The cheering from his teammates, “Shimizu is necessary for the national team, I want him to come back,” has changed to the power of “I must return.” And Shimizu positions this tournament as “the culmination of water polo life.” I went to the match. What was the reason for deciding to be the last to represent Japan?[Yusuke Shimizu]”Honestly, I’m confident that I can still play as a representative player, but I’m confident that I’ll be able to pull it, but Paris will be three years from now, and the qualifying will be two years from now. I have a strong feeling that I will not grow up. Young children need time, so I have to retire for that, or I have a feeling that I have to draw a line firmly. How was the Tokyo Olympics held?[Yusuke Shimizu]”It was hard to postpone as a player, and it was difficult to keep it for a year because I was the oldest player in the team, but I had to recover from my previous injury and overcome the high barriers. I was able to do it, and while the events and competitions were canceled, I was grateful and grateful for being able to hold it, so I had a strong desire to prepare well for the past year. ”
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