Mei ICHINOSE: Just Working Hard for MyselfAfter the Rio Paralympics, a Realization at 21 Years Old

Two years ago, Mei Ichinose was featured in the media as a medal contender for the Rio Paralympics. But when she actually got there, and competed in her six swimming events, she wasn’t able to advance to the finals for any of them. She understands, more than anyone, how terribly difficult it is to get on that victory podium. “I couldn’t swim the way I wanted to. I was so frustrated I almost felt nauseous.” Now, in the halfway point to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Mei has begun rapidly closing the distance between herself and the world. A fourth year student at Kindai University, her days are packed to the brim, and she’s made some new discoveries about herself in her training camp in Australia. Mei, as she is now, isn’t about to lose sight of her own stance on swimming, no matter the frenzy for 2020 that surrounds her. Now, in the spring of 2018, she is working hard, has learned to be more patient—and the foundation of her swimming is something that is becoming more stubborn, more reliable, every day.

Photographs by Mika NINAGAWA │ Styling by Tsugumi WATARI │ Make Up by COCO │ Interview & Text by Senichi ZOSHIGAYA | Cooperation by SLY