TOKYO, JAPAN (Reuters) — Japan’s female synchronized swimming team is determined to restore their nation’s dominance in the sport as they practiced on Thursday (February 12) in preparation for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Japan won bronze when the team event was added to the program at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and took silver in Sydney and in Athens four years later. They also won duet bronze from 1984 to 1992 and silver in 2000 and 2004.
At the Beijing Games in 2008, Japan took bronze in the duet but failed to medal in the team event, while China, under Japanese Masayo Imura’s guidance, finished third.
The Chinese then went one better in London with silver while Japan failed to make the podium in either category.
Imura’s role in China’s success prompted scathing criticism on social media for her “betrayal” of her homeland.
The return of Imura, known as the “mother” of Japanese synchronized swimming, has bolstered the country’s hopes ahead of this year’s Olympic Games to such an extent the team will be considered “failures” if they return from Rio without a medal.
To prepare for Olympic preliminaries in Rio this March, the team – which usually swims indoors – underwent rigorous training in Guam to acclimate to the outdoor pool in which the preliminaries will be held.
“I wanted us to come back (tanned into) a strong color, but after seeing the swimmers’ horrible performance, I decided color was a lesser priority compared to actually becoming strong. We practiced until we were satisfied,” said Imura.
But she banned swimmers from carrying out any self-indulgent training during their break time.
“The swimmers love to practice alone and that just self-indulgent. But I banned them from doing that. I told the facility’s staff not to let them in (to practice),” she said.
Imura’s tough approach was on full display at the training session, where she paced poolside as the team swam and flipped in a routine based loosely on Japanese myths, occasionally shouting “No! You’re doing it all wrong!”
Swimmers even recalled their relief when the Guam training camp was over.
“When we were told our (Guam) training was over, Inui actually shed a tear. In fact, she must have cried the most. When that training was over we were very relieved,” said swimmer Risako Mitsui of her team mate Yukiko Inui.
While some athletes and visitors planning to come to the Olympics have expressed concern about Zika, a virus linked to birth defects in newborns, the Japanese swimmers did not seem overly concerned.
Team captain Inui said the group was talking more about their routines and practice than Zika.
“We are more focused on our routine than the Zika virus, so the topic hasn’t come up much among us,” 24-year old Inui told reporters.
At least in this pool, minds and heart of the synchronized swimming team are focused on regaining Japan’s lost dominance.
“We want to prove that we are a country that can win a medal. We will train firmly for the Olympic preliminaries,” Inui said.
Synchronized swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held from 15 to 20 August at the Maria Lenk Aquatics Center in Rio de Janeiro.