(Reuters) – Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee will compete in Olympic qualifications in April after capturing a podium finish in her first 100-meter butterfly event since being treated for leukemia.
Ikee, who was confirmed in February 2019 and returned to action last August, finished in 59.44 seconds to win bronze at the Tokyo Open on Saturday.
The 20-year-old will now compete at the Swimming Japan meeting, the only Olympic-worthy event ahead of the Tokyo Games rescheduled to begin on July 23rd.
The Japan Swimming Federation’s Olympic qualification bar stands at 57.10 seconds, and Rio 2016’s Ikee national record stands at 56.08 seconds.
“I can’t say I’m aiming for it now,” Ikee said here when asked about her chances of competing at her home Olympics.
“When we start getting world-class results, we think about it then. “
Ikee also won the 50-meter butterfly race, a non-Olympic event, with a time of 25.77 seconds.
Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru; Edited by Andrew Cawthorne