UENO Yukiko

General
VETERAN OLYMPIC PLAYER
She was part of the Japanese teams that won bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. "I was a complete softball player in Beijing [in 2008]. Currently [2019/20] I'm enjoying softball in a different way. I'm still trying to achieve good results, but I don't have the same fire as I did in 2008. However, I cannot stop playing because I feel that the team needs me at the 2020 Olympic Games. I want to show how I have played for more than 20 years by throwing each ball [in Tokyo]. Regarding results, I'll leave that up to God." (USA Today, 20 Aug 2004; sportsbull.jp, 06 Dec 2019; theglobeandmail.com, 15 Jul 2011; ktv.jp, 26 Feb 2020; nikkansports.com, 01 Jan 2020)

INJURY LEADS TO INTROSPECTION
She said the four months she spent on the sidelines following a fractured jaw in April 2019 gave her time to reflect on her career. "Despite the most serious injury in my career, I thought that it was good to get a break, because I had time to rethink about what I want to do for softball and the Olympic Games. The injury taught me that if I'm going to do it [keep playing], do it right'." (nishinippon.co.jp, 25 Mar 2020; sanspo.com, 08 May 2019; sportsbull.jp, 06 Dec 2019)

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens she became the first softball player to pitch a seven-inning perfect game at the Olympic Games, which she achieved in a 2-0 win over the People's Republic of China. (wbsc.org, 20 Aug 2020)