Japanese swimming star Ikee Rikako has qualified for the Tokyo Olympic Games after a battle with leukemia.
The women's 100-meter butterfly on Sunday was her first national championship race in three years.
The 20-year-old got off to a slow start, but picked up speed and was in second place after the first 50 meters.
Ikee overtook the frontrunner to win the race with a time of 57.77 seconds and qualify for the 400-meter medley relay.
Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019. She returned to competition in August last year after treatment that included a 10-month stay in hospital.
The national championships will continue through Saturday.
The women's 100-meter butterfly on Sunday was her first national championship race in three years.
The 20-year-old got off to a slow start, but picked up speed and was in second place after the first 50 meters.
Ikee overtook the frontrunner to win the race with a time of 57.77 seconds and qualify for the 400-meter medley relay.
Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia in February 2019. She returned to competition in August last year after treatment that included a 10-month stay in hospital.
The national championships will continue through Saturday.
◆leukemia 白血病 Leukemia is a disease of the blood in which the body produces too many white blood cells.
◆overtake ～に追いつく、追い越す If you overtake a vehicle or a person that is ahead of you and moving in the same direction, you pass them./If someone or something overtakes a competitor, they become more successful than them.
◆overtake ～に追いつく、追い越す If you overtake a vehicle or a person that is ahead of you and moving in the same direction, you pass them./If someone or something overtakes a competitor, they become more successful than them.
◆frontrunner 競走・競技で先頭に立つ人 the leader or a favoured contestant in a race, election, etc