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Rikako Ikee Grabs First Comeback Gold, Enters World’s Top 5

2021 TOKYO OPEN

After reaching the women’s 100m fly podium yesterday with a bronze at this 2021 Tokyo Open, leukemia survivor Rikako Ikee threw down an inspirational swim to take gold in the 50m fly.

Competing on day 2 here in Tokyo, the 20-year-old Olympic finalist busted out a swift time of 25.77 to not only beat the remaining 50m fly competitors by over a second but to reach the top of the podium for the first time since her return to racing.

Ikee’s perseverance and positive attitude have now rendered the Renaissance swimmer as the world’s 4th fastest 50m flyer this season.

2020-2021 LCM Women 50 Fly

2Ranomi
Kromowidjojo
NED25.2403/13
3Sarah
Sjostrom
SWE25.4206/25
4Emilie
Beckmann
DEN25.5003/05
5Marie
Wattel
FRA25.5102/13
View Top 26»

For additional perspective, Ikee’s 25.77 tonight would have placed 8th at the 2019 FINA World Championships, a competition she had to sit out while spending most of that year in the hospital undergoing intense treatments. Her time tonight also ranks as the 11th best performance of her own career.

Ikee’s own Japanese national record in this event sits at 25.11, which means she was just over half a second away from the best performance of her life with tonight’s swim.

Post-race, Ikee stated to the Asian press, ” I wanted to swim around 26 seconds but I didn’t expect to be in the 25-second range. So, I am surprised and happy. I’m quite high right now.”

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Chalmers > Dressel
3 years ago

Why am I crying

sven
3 years ago

Hell yeah

Circle swim
3 years ago

Seeing Rikako compete in Tokyo… priceless

Gheko
3 years ago

Great Swim, 50fly is not on the Olympic program though

Retta Race
Reply to  Gheko
3 years ago

I don’t believe that’s the point.

Troll Longhorn
Reply to  Retta Race
3 years ago

Glad to see her continue to recover and move forward.

Anonymoose
Reply to  Troll Longhorn
3 years ago

why dont you troll

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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