Swimmer Ikee wins Olympic relay spot after leukemia battle

A powerful and gifted athlete! Good to know she will be on the Olympic Team!

Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee is an inspiration. Well done. Congratulations.

I was expecting her recovery eventually, but I am glad it comes this soon

She is a truly great athlete and human being. Her story is an inspiration to all. To come back to this level in such a short time is remarkable. In high level sport there are whats known as T.U.Es Therapeutic Use Exemptions. These allow athletes with a genuine health need to use what would otherwise be banned performance enhancing drugs. Lets hope her competitors or their coaches or national associations don't start questioning this.

@HimariYamada

Every venue was completed on time and on budget.

Venues may have been completed on time, but NOTHING was completed on budget!

Wonderful story anyway, really hope she gets to compete.

Really and truly the only reason to hold the Olympics this year. She embodies the Olympic spirit.

Congrats! Her comeback is very encouraging.

In many ways  Ikee san personifies Tokyo 2020. She was on top of the swimming world; breaking records after records. Just as Ikee san was breaking swimming, the people of Japan were working hard to prepare for the games. Every venue was completed on time and on budget. Everything looked set for Ikee triumph in the pool and Tokyo to host a great games. Then disease struck both Ikee and Japan. Naysayers said both were finished. Instead of quitting both worked hard and overcame. Both taught the world the meaning of the word: "Character".

Yes, this is Japan.

And this why the Olympics should be held. They should be held for her and athletes like her who work hard and overcome tremendous hardships to achieve their dreams.

I was really happy but also really surprised

Watched the news on BBC. She didn't look that really happy to me. More like気を使うto those around her and that look of she didn't understand why she's selected.

Remarkable and moving story.

Outstanding !! Rooting for your comeback.

who on earth has downvoted these comments? How cruel.

It is just a fantastic piece of news.

Great positive news! Wishing for Rikako Ike the continued best of health and greater future successes.

We were watching her interview last night. This one brought tears to my eyes. Great story!

Amazing news! No one would have believed Rikako-chan could have recovered to take her place on the team. Impossible. Couldn't be done. But she got there!

If she wins that gold in the relay, there won't be a dry eye in that swimming arena. The roar from Hokkaido down to Okinawa will be deafening and the partying will last for days! (I still hope the Games will be postponed - Rikako-chan will be even faster in 2022)

How rare it is to find someone to cheer for these days. Go for the Gold Rikako!

Well done! It's great that she gets to appear in the pool. I strongly suspect she will have been on a shortlist of the last few people to carry the torch before they light the flame, it's such a feel-good story, but she is a swimmer and will want to swim at the Games.

If for anyone, the Olympics for her. Well done, and I hope you remain healthy.

Phenomenal! Congratulations Rikako!

Heroic!

Good Job!

Alright now I know who to cheer for!