Biography
Started: He began swimming at about age four. He took a break from the sport at age 12, and resumed training again at age 16. (netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018; Athlete, 12 Jul 2015; at-s.com, 12 Sep 2013; waseda.jp, 14 Jun 2007)
Reason: His family encouraged him to try the sport. "I just wanted to enjoy it, and I really didn't expect that I'd become an international swimmer." (Athlete, 11 Sep 2019; netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
Ambition: To win multiple medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (taka-swimmer.com, 05 Jan 2024)
Milestones: He was the only Japanese athlete from any sport to win more than three medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, finishing with five medals in Japan. (SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jul 2024)
Awards: In 2022 he received the Hamamatsu City Honorary Award in Japan. (taka-swimmer.com, 06 Jan 2022)
In 2012 he received the Tokyo Citizen Sport Grand Prize in Japan. (sports-tokyo.info, 05 Oct 2012)
Additional Info: MOVE TO ENGLAND
In 2014 he moved to England as he wanted to change his training environment. The following year he began studying and training at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England. After graduating with a master's degree in international sport management in 2020, he began studying for a PhD in sport management at the same university. "I found an amazing international swimming coach in Newcastle called Louise Graham, the head of aquatics at Northumbria University, and I asked her to coach me. I studied English so that I could train better and Newcastle turned out to be the best place for learning English and my swimming." (netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018; nhk.or.jp, 29 Aug 2017; goldwin.co.jp, 23 Jul 2014; taka-swimmer.com, 10 Jan 2021; tokyo-np.co.jp, 04 Jan 2021; afpbb.com, 14 Nov 2021; taka-swimmer.com, 08 Mar 2022)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He served as an ambassador for the 2020 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. In 2021 he began serving as a member of the International Paralympic Committee [IPC] Athletes' Council. (afpbb.com, 14 Nov 2021; paralympic.org, 04 Sep 2021; netimesmagazine.co.uk, 01 Sep 2018)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderMale
Birth DateJanuary 23, 1987
EducationPedagogy, Sports Management - Waseda University, Tokyo, JPN
Languages SpokenJapanese, English
CoachTaichi Kishimoto [national, personal], JPN
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | 100m Freestyle - S4 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:21.58 |
| 1 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 49.06 |
| 2 | 200m Freestyle - S4 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 2:55.15 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S4 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 37.70 |
| 2 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 2:42.52 |
| 3 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 2:40.53 |
| 3 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 49.32 |
| 3 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2012 | London, GBR | 2:40.24 |
| 3 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2012 | London, GBR | 50.26 |
| 3 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 2:41.11 |
| 4 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 2:38.71 |
| 4 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 49.96 |
| 4 | 4x50m Freestyle Relay - 20 Points | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 2:39.78 |
| 7 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 1:25.29 |
| 7 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 1:29.99 |
| 8 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2012 | London, GBR | 1:24.73 |
| 8 | 200m Freestyle - S5 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 3:02.80 |
| 8 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 2:58.61 |
| 9 | 200m Freestyle - S5 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 2:58.74 |
| 10 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2012 | London, GBR | 38.88 |
| 10 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 39.35 |
| 11 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 1:24.76 |
| 14 | 50m Butterfly - S5 | 2012 | London, GBR | 48.10 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 49.87 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S4 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 1:23.36 |
| 2 | 100m Freestyle - S4 | 2019 | London, GBR | 1:22.38 |
| 2 | 200m Freestyle - S4 | 2019 | London, GBR | 2:53.22 |
| 2 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2019 | London, GBR | 48.83 |
| 2 | 50m Freestyle - S4 | 2019 | London, GBR | 37.56 |
| 2 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 50.51 |
| 2 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 2:40.83 |
| 2 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 49.87 |
| 2 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 52.49 |
| 3 | 100m Freestyle - S4 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 1:22.91 |
| 3 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 50.69 |
| 3 | 50m Freestyle - S4 | 2023 | Manchester, GBR | 38.63 |
| 3 | 50m Breaststroke - SB3 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 51.12 |
| 3 | 50m Freestyle - S4 | 2022 | Funchal, POR | 38.99 |
| 3 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2019 | London, GBR | 2:37.29 |
| 3 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 2:41.49 |
| 4 | 200m Freestyle - S5 | 2013 | Montreal, QC, CAN | 3:02.56 |
| 4 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 2:51.85 |
| 5 | 150m Individual Medley - SM4 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 2:40.67 |
| 6 | 200m Freestyle - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 3:08.34 |
| 7 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 39.71 |
| 8 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2006 | Durban, RSA | 1:28.00 |
| 9 | 50m Freestyle - S5 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 38.20 |
| 11 | 100m Freestyle - S5 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 1:25.52 |
| 13 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2010 | Eindhoven, NED | 53.38 |
| 15 | 50m Backstroke - S5 | 2015 | Glasgow, GBR | 49.55 |
| Asian Para Games | ||||
| 1 | 100m Freestyle - S4 | 2022 | Hangzhou, CHN | 1:24.96 |
| 1 | 50m Freestyle - S4 | 2022 | Hangzhou, CHN | 38.97 |
| 2 | 4x50m Medley Relay - 20 Points | 2022 | Hangzhou, CHN | 2:49.49 |
