YUI Maori

Japanese

She began swimming while she was in grade one at primary school, and she started competing when she got to grade five. (tokyo2020.org, 01 Dec 2020; nc.maenisi-hs.gsn.ed.jp, 15 Oct 2018)

She took up the sport as a form of therapy for her lower limbs. "My nursery school teacher and my parents said that I seemed happier in the swimming pool. Not being able to move freely on land, I felt happier in the water because I could float and move just like everyone else. I probably got hooked on swimming because I am able to move any way I wanted to." (tokyo2020.org, 01 Dec 2020; nc.maenisi-hs.gsn.ed.jp, 15 Oct 2018)

To compete in the final of her event at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (tokyo2020.org, 01 Dec 2020)

Coach Shibata Yasuhide. (tokyo2020.org, 01 Dec 2020)

"In swimming, you use nothing else but your own body. You only have your body to make the best of. No tools, no excuses. That's what makes swimming appealing." (tokyo2020.org, 01 Dec 2020)