Date provides Asian Games inspiration

看板Asiantennis作者erickin (阿更)時間15年前 (2010/11/23 13:32)推噓1(1推 0噓 1→)

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這篇有提到伊達事隔16年後再次參加亞運會在心態上的改變， 1994年那一次她覺得必須要拿到金牌，所以奪金後感覺是鬆一口氣，反而這一屆她是真正享受網球。不過八卦是我用紅色標起來那一段...怎麼之前都沒有聽到這個傳言，不是說那個馬拉松賽讓伊達重新愛上運動之類嗎？還是這只是記者憑空想像？ It has been 16 years since Kimiko Date Krumm won the gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games held in Hiroshima. "In Hiroshima, I pressured myself into thinking that a gold medal was a must," the tennis player says, looking back. "When I actually won the gold, I felt more relieved than happy. But this time, I want to enjoy the Asian Games as much as I can." Date retired in 1996 at her peak and got married in 2001. After struggling with infertility, she tried to escape reality by running a full marathon but ruined her health during her attempt. She returned to tennis in 2008 at the urging of her husband, race car driver Michael Krumm. That's when she realized the joy of being able to play tennis again. "Now, I enjoy tennis, even when I lose," she says. Date's current world ranking is 48th, the highest of all Japanese female tennis players. At the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China, this month, she will compete in three categories--singles, doubles and the women's team event. But she's not competing just for herself. "I want to reduce the pressure on younger athletes by accompanying them and sharing my experiences with them. I don't feel like I'm representing the country." The tennis environment in Asia changed drastically while Date was in retirement. Japan no longer leads other nations by a long stretch. Li Na--who ranks 11th in the world--and other Chinese tennis players are leading the Asian group, and Taiwanese players are also getting better. It's the result of China focusing on doubles, an area where there are fewer competitors worldwide. Japan began strengthening its doubles players this summer but is basically leaving training up to the individuals. Yet the nation demands results from young players like 20-year-old Ayumi Morita. That's why Date wants to relieve the pressure on these young athletes. But Date is also battling some personal demons. "Every day I feel like I have two enemies--my opponent and my (aging) body." At the age of 40, when it takes longer to recover from fatigue, Date can't think about whether to try for the 2012 London Olympics. "I don't even know what to expect tomorrow," she says. Her struggle of pushing herself to her limits remains the same as two decades ago. But now, she feels she has many supporters to share her joys and sadness. She no longer suffers alone, under pressure every time her world ranking goes up. "Asia's level has risen since (the last time I participated.) But I can grow throughout this competition. We want to bring back gold medals together," she says. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 182.93.56.60