Tokyo,
Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee made her sporting comeback in Tokyo on Saturday, competing for the first time since a shock leukemia diagnosis last year.
The 20-year-old had been a strong favorite for the 100-meter butterfly gold at the now-postponed Olympic Games before revealing she had the illness. She was discharged from hospital in December after around 10 months of treatment and resumed training in March.
“The fact that I’m swimming and I’m here again… I’m moved,” she told reporters after the 50-metre freestyle race on Saturday.
“My goal was to enjoy it without thinking too much and I really could,” she said, adding that she felt relieved.—AFP
