News

Natsumi Hoshi

Natsumi Hoshi (4th year student at the School of Sports Sciences) who appeared in the women’s 200m butterfly swimming event at the London Olympics gave a great effort to win the bronze medal in the race and become the first active female student of Waseda University to win a medal at the games. It was the first time in 48 years, since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, that an active student at Waseda University has won a medal in an individual event at the Summer Olympics.

About 50 Swimming Club members gathered at the Aqua Arena in Tokorozawa Campus, Waseda University and cheered her on while watching on a screen specially set up for the occasion. The coach, Keisuke Okuno (Professor, Faculty of Sport Sciences) , called out, “We are moving into the endgame” and “With everyone supporting Hoshi by cheering her on, let’s witness an historic moment.” Everyone present also continued to loudly cheer for her.

Natsumi Hoshi was looking to London to make up for her loss at the Beijing Olympics at which she was unable to advance to the finals. Hoshi, who specializes in putting pressure on other competitors in the second half of the race, was sixth at the 100m turn. However, when she emerged in fifth at the 150m turn, she steadily accelerated. With the Swimming Club members pushing her on by yelling, “This is it! This is it! This is it!” she overtook two others in the remaining 20m and finished in third with a time of 2:05:48.

After the race, Hoshi cried and revealed her feelings of regret while saying “I really trained hard with the aim of winning the gold medal, so I was truly disappointed.” However, she then exploded with joy saying, “I was able to achieve my goal of becoming an Olympic medalist. I am truly filled with gratitude for all the support I have received from a great many people.”

The Swimming Club erupts with joy at Natsumi Hoshi winning the bronze medal (Aqua Arena, Tokorozawa Campus, Waseda University)

Takehisa Nakayama, captain of the Swimming Club (4th year student at the School of Sports Sciences), extolled the efforts of his classmate by saying, “That was an amazing race. I think she could really enjoy the great stage of the Olympics.” Ai Oshima, the female captain of the Swimming Race Section (4th year student at the School of Sports Sciences) , also added “Hoshi always tries her hardest without ever complaining. The last 50m were just like her. I offer my sincere congratulations to her.”

Congratulatory Message from Kaoru Kamata, President

Congratulations to Natsumi Hoshi for earning a bronze medal at the Games of the Olympiad in London!

All of us at Waseda University feel extremely proud that one of our own has been able to medal at an official event of the Summer Games, a feat which has not occurred since the Tokyo Olympics of 1964.

Natsumi Hoshi’s performance represents an inspiration to not only the Waseda University community at large, but to Japanese around the world with her triumphant gift of courage, hope, and uplifting emotion.

On behalf of the University, we send our very best of wishes for further success and a bright future ahead.

Link

Athletic Center, Waseda University: London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games