20-year-old new heroine Airi Mitsui won the 200m butterfly at the Paris Olympic Games selection tournament in March, securing a ticket to the dream stage.

The best weapon is “catch-up in the second half”

His greatest strength is his ability to catch up in the second half, which is a trait he acknowledges. In the qualifying rounds in March, he was third in the first 100m, but in the last 100m he made a tremendous comeback and ultimately won by more than one second over the second place. In his first appearance as a representative at the World Championships in 2011, he went from seventh overall to fifth with 50m remaining, and he realized that his ability to catch up is his lifeline.

20-year-old new heroine Airi Mitsui has secured a ticket to the Paris Olympics in the 200m butterfly.

Mitsui:

I think the second half is my strength, and (at the World Championships) it felt like there were people better than me in the second half, but I felt like I was able to catch up and that was one of my strengths.

Intense training to improve speed and overcome challenges

At the 2023 World Championships, his time in the last 100m was third overall, but his time in the first half was last. His chances of a medal in Paris depend on his time in the first half.

To improve his speed, he has also been actively involved in weight training.

Mitsui:

Even though I say that my strength is my endurance in the second half, as I learned at the World Championships, I can’t make a comeback, so I think the first half is important. I’ve become more conscious of things like speed in practice.

Strengthen your muscles with resistance training using a parachute in the pool

Power is necessary to achieve speed, so he has been actively engaged in weight training.

To overcome the challenges, he pushed himself so hard that his trademark smile disappeared

He pushed himself so hard that his trademark smile disappeared during resistance training with a parachute in the pool.

“It’s free to say, so it’s a gold medal.”

In July, she will take to the stage she has dreamed of since elementary school.

I would be happy if we could hold a race that would give people a lot of exciting emotions.

Mitsui:

When I was in elementary school, around 5th or 6th grade, I watched the Rio Olympics (in 2016)… I was working hard at swimming and started competing in national competitions, and watching the Olympics really inspired me, and I thought it was amazing, so I started to admire it, so I think it’s a dream stage. At the time of the Rio Olympics, I remember watching Ikee Rikako (23, Yokohama Rubber) who was doing so well, and I remember thinking how cool her swimming was… I thought she was so cool and sparkling, and I admired her. I think I admired the Olympics, so I would be happy if I could have a race where I could swim and make people feel sparkling emotions.

The color of the medal is… “It’s free to say, so I’ll give it a gold medal.”

Q. Do you pay attention to the color of the medal?
Mitsui:

Well, it’s free to say, so gold medal.

Q. If you’re going to participate, then you want to be number one.
Mitsui:

Yes, That’s right.

Airi Mitsui

Born June 12, 2004, height 163cm. Born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Yokohama Sakura Swimming School/Hosei University.
She started taking swimming lessons at the age of 5, and began competing in earnest in her second year of elementary school. In April 2011, she won the 200m butterfly at the national team selection tournament, becoming a member of the Japanese national team for the first time. In August of the same year, she placed 5th at the World Championships. In March, she won the 200m butterfly at the Paris Olympic team selection tournament, making her first appearance on the Olympic stage. Her favorite food is pasta (carbonara).