Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages Japanese
Higher education Physical Education - Nippon Sport Science University: Tokyo, JPN
License number 27071998002
Club
Sport Specific Information
When and where did you begin this sport? She took up the sport in grade five of primary school at the Wakita Junior Club in Wakayama, Japan.
Why this sport? Her mother took her and her younger sister Sera to Wakayama Kita High School, where her mother trained, in order to introduce them to fencing. They met Machiko Ichikawa, head coach of the Wakita Junior Club, and began training in the sport.
Club / Team Meiji Yasuda Life: Japan
Name of coach Franck Boidin [national], FRA
Handedness Right
General Interest
Hobbies Reading manga comics, watching YouTube videos. (mainichi.jp, 17 Jul 2019)
Most influential person in career Her mother Miki. (sports.smt.docomo.ne.jp, 29 Jul 2019)
Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs She has her grips painted in purple, her favourite colour. (mainichi.jp, 17 Jul 2019)
Sporting philosophy / motto "Fencing is a part of my daily life which is always there." (sports.smt.docomo.ne.jp, 29 Jul 2019)
Famous relatives Her mother Miki represented Japan in fencing and competed at the world junior championships. Her younger sister Sera has also competed in fencing and represented Japan at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (joc.or.jp, 23 Jul 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 14 Apr 2022; sponichi.co.jp, 26 Apr 2021; jiji.com, 25 Apr 2021; sanspo.com, 27 Mar 2018)
Ambitions To compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. (bs-asahi.co.jp, 09 Apr 2022)
Other information SISTER ACT
She and her younger sister Sera both competed in foil at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Speaking in 2019, Rio said she believed her sister was a better fencer than her. "It used to concern me a lot, but I came to a clear decision that my sister is better than me. Her footwork is amazing. I think I began admitting that when I started university. Maybe I was growing up, but it's true that Sera has accomplished more than I have, so we don't really particularly have a strong rivalry." (SportsDeskOnline, 14 Apr 2022; mainichi.jp, 17 Jul 2019)
