Tomoya Ito

Started: He began competing in Para athletics in 1999. (ssf.or.jp, 08 Apr 2015; ito-tomoya.com, 10 Sep 2010) Reason: He was hospitalised for two years after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He ordered a wheelchair to help him in his daily life, but realised when it was delivered that it was a racing chair. He was then encouraged to participate in a marathon by the manufacturer of the wheelchair. (ssf.or.jp, 08 Apr 2015; yomiuri.co.jp, 13 Sep 2008) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Nippon Challenged Athletes YouTube channel, 10 May 2024) Awards: In 2004, 2008, and 2012 he was presented with the Commendation of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan. (ito-tomoya.com, 17 Jul 2017) In 2008 he was presented with the Special Order of the Cabinet of Japan. (ito-tomoya.com, 17 Jul 2017) In 2004 he was presented with the Commendation of the Prime Minister in Japan. (ito-tomoya.com, 17 Jul 2017) Additional Info: RETIREMENT AND RETURN He retired from the sport following the 2012 Paralympic Games in London and then began running a ramen restaurant with a friend. When he participated in the 2016 Cybathlon assistive technology showcase in Switzerland as a pilot of a powered wheelchair, he met Anri Sugihara, the president of industrial design company RDS. Sugihara encouraged him to return to athletics in a wheelchair made by RDS ahead of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. He made his return in June 2017, after closing his restaurant. His customised wheelchair was completed in October 2019, and he went on to win three medals at the 2019 World Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, before competing at the 2020 Paralympic Games. (SportsDeskOnline, 08 Aug 2024; yahoo.co.jp, 24 Feb 2020; jal.co.jp, 01 Sep 2019; rakusei.gr.jp, 16 Feb 2019; harmony.bayer.jp, 12 Dec 2018; genki-nippon.yomiuri.co.jp, 14 Nov 2017)