Imperial couple praise Beijing gold medalists

Written by Writer on Friday, October 24th, 2008

Imperial couple praise Beijing gold medalists

Despite persistent drizzle, about 1,600 guests, including Beijing Olympics gold medalists, gathered Thursday for an autumn garden party, hosted by the Emperor and the Empress, at Akasaka Imperial Garden in Motoakasaka, Tokyo.

The Emperor praised gold medalist Yukiko Ueno of the Japanese softball team for her performance, saying, “it must have been tough to pitch for such a long stretch.” Ueno replied, “I was able to continue pitching throughout the game because my teammates were with me.”

When the Emperor told Kosuke Kitajima, who won two gold medals in the men’s breaststroke, that his performance would encourage many people to enter the world of competitive swimming, Kitajima said he would be pleased if that were so.

When the Emperor asked Satoshi Ishii, gold medalist in men’s judo 100-kilogram class, if he was aiming at competing at the next Olympics, Ishii said he was not, and that he had chosen to focus on another sport.

However, when he was later asked by reporters whether he was not aiming at the next Olympics, he denied having told the Emperor he would not be. “I couldn’t tell the Emperor [that I won't aim at the Olympics] for the life of me,” Ishii told reporters.
(Oct. 24, 2008)