Japanese Double Olympic Champion Yui Ohashi Announces Retirement
Three years after capturing double gold in the individual medley events at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japanese star Yui Ohashi competed in the final race of her career on Saturday. Ohashi announced her retirement after finishing second in the 200-meter individual medley at the National Sports Festival.
“I had a dream career as I got to win Olympic gold medals,” Ohashi said, according to Kyodo News. “Japanese swimming isn’t in a good state. I hope to get involved in its comeback.”
After the 2020 Olympics were delayed by a year due to the Covid pandemic, Ohashi emerged as a star at the Tokyo Games. She initially earned the gold medal in the 400 individual medley, then completed the medley sweep by prevailing over the 200-meter distance. She also competed at the recent Olympics in Paris, finishing 12th in the semifinals of the 200 IM.
During her career, Ohashi also won the silver medal in the 200 medley at the 2017 World Championships and was the bronze medalist in the 400 IM at the 2019 World Champs. In 2018, she was victorious in both medley events at the Pan Pacific Championships and was the gold medalist in the 400 IM at the Asian Games.
Japan had a poor showing at the Olympics in Paris, managing just one medal. That podium finish was produced by Tomoyuki Matsushita in the 400 individual medley. Ohashi indicated she wants to support the Japanese Federation in some capacity as it looks to regain its footing on the global stage.