HANEDA Takuya

General
GROWING THE SPORT IN JAPAN
He says that after he won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as the first Japanese slalom paddler to make an Olympic podium, the popularity of the sport increased in Japan. "So many people have become interested in canoe slalom since I won that medal. They also recognise me, so my desire to meet their expectations has become so much stronger." He believes that the construction of the Kasai Canoe Slalom Centre as a venue for the 2020 Games in Tokyo will further develop canoe slalom in the country. "This [the construction of the centre] means a lot to me. This is really going to raise awareness of the sport in Japan, and it will give athletes a much better chance of improving their skills. It's fantastic." (tokyo2020.org, 06 Mar 2020)

SLOVAKIA STINT
After finishing high school in Japan in 2006, he moved to Slovakia to train alongside European athletes and take advantage of the canoe slalom facilities there. He also combined his training with studying at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. "I had no choice but to go. In canoeing, just because you have ability doesn't mean that you will improve. For example, even if you do have the ability, if there is no coach in Japan - if there are no man-made courses in Japan - then your talent just disappears; this happens all the time. This is a real handicap for us as canoeists, which is why I had to base myself in Slovakia. The environment really is that much different." (anedatakuya.com, 14 Apr 2014; sanspo.com, 02 Dec 2018; olympicchannel.com, 13 Mar 2019; tokyo2020.org, 06 Mar 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
He studied for a master's degree in physical education at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia. (sports.mikihouse.co.jp, 2018; hochi.news, 13 Feb 2021)

He became the first Japanese slalom paddler to win a medal at the Olympic Games when he won bronze in the C1 event at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 01 Jun 2018; ktv.jp, 28 Oct 2016)