ISHIMOTO Ryuichiroh (2nd year, School of Education) of Okayama University's track and field club competed in the men's 400m hurdles at the 21st Japan Deaf Athletics Championships, held from November 29 to December 1 at the Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Athletics Stadium in Tokyo. Despite this being his first national competition, Mr. Ishimoto won the event with a new championship record time of 56.45 seconds.
Deaf sports are events for athletes with hearing impairments, and in deaf athletics, a starting ramp is used instead of a pistol. Mr. Ishimoto said, “This was my first time competing in a deaf competition, and I was very nervous. I was unsure if I could start properly since I hadn’t had much experience with a starting ramp. Also, in the 400m hurdles this season, I faced many frustrations, such as not improving my record as I had hoped and struggling to adjust my condition for important competitions. I believe my mental weakness was the cause of these difficulties. Therefore, my goal for this competition was to ‘overcome myself,’ and I practiced hard to adjust and set a new record. With the support of many friends and seniors, I gave my best in the race. Winning with a new championship record is a significant growth for me, and I believe I was able to run ‘strongly.’ I want to express my gratitude to everyone I’ve met.”
Having overcome obstacles and grown significantly, Mr. Ishimoto’s future goal is to win a gold medal at the Deaflympics*, which will be held in Tokyo in 2025. We look forward to his future success!
*Deaflympics: The Olympic Games for athletes with hearing impairments.
Reference:
Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
Event Dates: November 15-26, 2025
The goal is a Gold Medal at the Deaflympics! Ishimoto of the Track and Field Club Wins the Deaf Japan Championships
December 16, 2024