Japanese swim icon and six-times Asian Games gold medal-winner Rikako Ikee has been diagnosed with Leukaemia.
Ikee, 18, broke records when she amassed six golds and two silver medals in eight disciplines last year, but the teenager said on social media that she’s determined to fight the illness, per BBC Sport: “I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee.”
The starlet was predicted to be one of the breakout stars at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but will almost certainly not participate after pulling out of this year’s Japanese Championships, set to begin in April.
Photo by The Japan Times
