Tokyo
Japanese gymnastics star Kohei Uchimura, whose false positive test for coronavirus (Covid-19) last week briefly appeared to threaten a four-nation meet that is a key test for the 2020 Olympics, said on Saturday it was all good experience in preparing for the Games.
The winner of three Olympic gold medals, Uchimura is among 30 gymnasts from Japan, the United States, China and Russia, competing in Sunday’s meet. It will be the first international event at a 2020 Olympics venue since the Games were postponed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The one-off friendly event is seen as a crucial trial run for having international athletes travel to and compete in Japan safely during the Olympics, which will bring some 11,000 athletes to Tokyo. A few international matches have been held in some sports recently, but they remain rare. Uchimura, whose false positive test alarmed organisers and forced practice to be halted as Japanese athletes were re-tested, said it felt as if ‘time had stopped’ but was ultimately useful.
“If you think of heading for the Olympics in this irregular situation, I think it was a really good experience,” he told an online news conference.—AP
