"I headed into the Sochi Olympics with the thought of winning a medal and give it as a present to Japan which got wounded by the disaster. But after actually winning the competition, I suddenly felt powerless. I realized that the gold medal won't be able to directly help the recovery process. I had to transfer my base for training from Sendai where I was born all the way to Canada in order to aim for the gold, but I did start to think if it really was such a good idea to leave behind my hometown which was demolished by the disaster.
"3 years ago, on that day, I was training on the rink in Sendai. The ice suddenly rippled and then burst. The tremor was so strong, I couldn't even stand on my feet. Then I started to run away, crying, fearing that 'I might die like this'. Up to now, I still see flashbacks of that scene in my head. My tears do not stop, and I cry out in my sleep.
"There was also a time when I thought about quitting the sport altogether, but this changed the following year, last 2012, when I realized something after winning the bronze medal at the World Championships thanks to everyone's cheers and support. In my mind, I was skating for the sake of the other victims to give them strength and courage, but I realized that it was actually I who was being supported by them. It was the same in the Olympics. Their cheers and support helped give that little push on my back. The gold medal wasn't won just by myself, but by everyone who cheered me on.
"As a gold medal winner, I can now see what I should do. I intend to keep on skating in order to deliver to everyone what I truly feel -- please do not ever forget about the disaster-hit areas."
"3 years ago, on that day, I was training on the rink in Sendai. The ice suddenly rippled and then burst. The tremor was so strong, I couldn't even stand on my feet. Then I started to run away, crying, fearing that 'I might die like this'. Up to now, I still see flashbacks of that scene in my head. My tears do not stop, and I cry out in my sleep.
"There was also a time when I thought about quitting the sport altogether, but this changed the following year, last 2012, when I realized something after winning the bronze medal at the World Championships thanks to everyone's cheers and support. In my mind, I was skating for the sake of the other victims to give them strength and courage, but I realized that it was actually I who was being supported by them. It was the same in the Olympics. Their cheers and support helped give that little push on my back. The gold medal wasn't won just by myself, but by everyone who cheered me on.
"As a gold medal winner, I can now see what I should do. I intend to keep on skating in order to deliver to everyone what I truly feel -- please do not ever forget about the disaster-hit areas."
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