BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 9 -- Often compared to legendary gymnast Kohei Uchimura, Japan's Takeru Kitazono has every right to feel under pressure.
But the 15-year-old gives the impression that nothing can fluster him as he strives for gold at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
"I am really happy that people are talking about me like this, that they call me the second generation of Kohei," the 15-year-old said of the comparisons with his famous compatriot. "I don't feel any extra pressure, but of course I know people expect me to do well."
Kohei Uchimura is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. The 29-year-old has won three Olympic gold medals and 10 world titles during a distinguished artistic gymnastics career that began in 2007.
Kitazono said Uchimura served as an inspiration and role model as he attempts to carve out his own successful senior career, starting with the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"He certainly is a role model for me, I look up to him," Kitazono said. "One day I want to follow in his footsteps. But I have a long way to go."
Kitazono began his quest for glory in Buenos Aires by finishing first in the pommel horse qualification on Sunday. He said he is relishing the chance to perform on a big stage for the first time.
"The venue is really big and I never competed in an arena this big before," he said. "It gave me some nerves when we marched in, but as soon as I started to compete they were all gone.
"If you're nervous during a competition, it means that you haven't trained enough. The best way to avoid that mental stress is just to keep on training every day. Now I just hope all my hard work will pay off, as I really want to enjoy that feeling of satisfaction."
The teenager took up the sport at the age of three after his mother gave in to his requests to be taken to a local gymnastics club.
"I saw it and thought, 'I want to go there'," he said. "My mum enrolled me in some gymnastics classes. Since I was little I had the dream to compete at big events."
Just being in Buenos Aires represents a triumph of sorts for Kitazono, who almost didn't qualify for the competition due to an injury.
"I fractured my ankle after a bad landing during training back in 2017," he said. "I still struggled with it at our national trials for the Youth Olympic Games, but it feels better now. It feels good to be here and I hope I leave Buenos Aires with a good feeling.
"Gymnastics is my life, I am really enjoying it. To be honest, there is no me, myself without artistic gymnastics. Of course my main goal is Tokyo 2020, but I am seeing this as a huge opportunity. A first big step towards the main goal: winning gold in Tokyo. If I can win at Buenos Aires 2018, I can win in Tokyo."?
2000年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨原文丨答案及下载
1997年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
1991年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月英语四级听力答题注意的事项:长对话
1992年6月大学英语四级(CET-4)听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月英语四级听力考试常见的词汇7
1996年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
英语四级听力提分的技巧:态度和虚拟保留原则
1998年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月英语四级听力考试常见的词汇1
英语四级听力冲刺提分的技巧:女士保留原则
2014年12月英语四级听力注意的事项:短文听力
1993年12月大学英语四级(CET-4)听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月大学英语四级考试听力笔记的讲义7
1990年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月四级听力真题:欧洲小国安道尔
2001年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月大学英语四级考试听力笔记的讲义4
2014年12月英语四级《听力》的词汇10
2014年12月英语四级听力短文听写的模拟练习
2014年12月英语四级听力答题注意的事项:听写
1999年12月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
1999年6月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
1995年6月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2000年6月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月英语四级听力考试常见的词汇8
1997年6月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
1992年12月大学英语四级(CET-4)听力真题丨答案及下载
1990年6月大学英语四级听力真题丨答案及下载
2014年12月英语四级听力答题注意的事项:短对话
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |