Misa Nishiyama, the 15-year-old All-Japan champion with a youthful charm, spoke at a press conference on May 13 ahead of the NHK Cup (scheduled from May 14 to 17 at Tokyo Gymnasium). The event also serves as the second selection for the World Championships (opening October 17 in Amsterdam, Netherlands) and the second selection for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (opening September 19). Nishiyama, who won her first All-Japan individual all-around title in April, said with a naive expression, “I have been training to keep my condition from dropping since the All-Japan Championships. I’ve been practicing with attention to detail, making sure to pick up even the smallest points in every event. I’m nervous, but I want to push through to the end and enjoy it.”
At just 15, Nishiyama surpassed many senior gymnasts to claim the title of “Japan’s Queen.” Last year, she finished eighth while aiming for the top, and driven by that regret, she intensified her training, practicing five hours a day even on weekdays to reach the pinnacle. She mentioned receiving many congratulations from those around her and shyly said, “I was happy to hear ‘Congratulations’ from many people.”
Looking ahead to the Los Angeles Olympics in two years, Nishiyama views this year as “a year to gain experience on the world stage” and aims to secure spots for both the World Championships and the Nagoya Asian Games. “I still don’t have the right to represent Japan at the World Championships. I want to work hard to achieve that, which is my biggest goal. I might get conscious of other athletes, but I hope to deliver the best performance I can,” she said with determination.
◆World Championships Representation: Both men and women have five spots. For men, scores from the All-Japan individual all-around will be carried over, and the top three from that meet will be selected. For women, half of their scores will be carried over, and the top four will become representatives. The top two men and top three women will also represent Japan at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this autumn. The remaining spots will be filled by athletes who can contribute to the team competition.