Ayano Tsujiuchi (27) from Mitsubishi Corporation, who won the bronze medal in the women’s 100m freestyle (visually impaired S12), has poor eyesight and can only see the blurred outlines of the people in front of her.

But a circle of people forms around him.

The Japan Para Swimming Championships in May 2024. After finishing his swim, Tsujiuchi climbed out of the pool and immediately picked up his smartphone. He walked over to the other swimmers who had already finished and smiled.

“Hey, everyone, look over here.”

Holding the smartphone in his right hand, he took a photo with the other person making a peace sign.

With outstanding communication skills, we connect people, whether they have a disability or not, and regardless of the type of disability.

This is an attitude he inherited from his predecessors in the world of para swimming, which he entered after becoming disabled.

The back of a legend

Tsujiuchi is a swimmer with an acquired visual impairment.

In the spring of 2015, just before graduating from high school, his eyesight suddenly started to deteriorate. He was diagnosed with macular dystrophy, an incurable disease that gradually reduces vision. In 2017, he was granted a disability certificate.

The person taking part in the para-swimming event was a classmate from his high school swimming club, who is missing his left elbow and a parent…