In August, they set a new student and Japan Senior record and won 1st place in the All-Japan Intercollege Championship Cycling Tournament for the men’s team sprint.

The 4th-year chief, the 4th year captain, and a 2nd-year member became a team to win this glory. “Chief Okamoto’s ‘nobi-nobi’ policy was good,” recalls Kudo. “ He paid attention to every member’s opinion and this raised the team’s morale.” “Well, I only left it to everyone’s independence because I didn’t have enough knowledge to boss anyone around,” comments Okamoto with a humble laugh. 2nd-year Sawaguchi, who was suddenly picked as a member only one month before the tournament, has a sparkle in his eye while telling us that he was really pleased to have been picked as a member. You can easily tell how much they trust each other.

Although the Waseda cycling team is now a strong team, in the past the members were not as motivated and there was a time when the team wasn’t really functioning. When he was a 1st-year student and his performance was not improving, Okamoto even thought of quitting. Along similar lines, Kudo says, “I have experience of everything from being at the very bottom to getting to the top. I guess the results show how I have clawed my way up.” He feels that the team is getting better and better. “It was hard to do my duty as a captain and also practice. I was saved by all the help given by the coach, the OBs, and my teammates.”

Okamoto will work in the bridal business after graduating and hopes to eventually expand the branch to his hometown in Kyushu. Kudo chose to work in the broadcasting industry. “I want to stay related to sports through broadcasting,” he declares. As for Sawaguchi, “Next year I will be a 3rd-year student,” he says, adding eagerly that “Being in the middle, I would like to keep an objective view towards both higher and lower grade students.”

“The real charm of cycling is that you can create speeds of up to 60km/h,” says Okamoto. Kudo adds that “racing bikes are cool and both boys and girls are fascinated by them.” Because the cycling team is a small one, it is important for them to secure more members. Sawaguchi says, “It is important for us to make a system in which the team functions well with a small number of members.” The three of them all say, “If you are even mildly interested in cycling, please come and visit us!”