Olympians of Japanese descent competed in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Some of the Nikkei athletes medaled in their competitions, while others did not.
Christa Deguchi, a Japanese Canadian judoka, won a gold medal. According to NBC News, Deguchi is the first Canadian to win gold in Judo.
In skateboarding, Arisa Trew, a 14-year-old Japanese Australian skateboarder, won the women’s park gold medal for Team Australia. Cocona Hiraki, a 15-year-old Japanese skateboarder won the silver medal for Japan.
Sky Brown, a 16-year-old Japanese British skateboarder, collected the bronze for Great Britain.
On the men’s side, Nyjah Huston won a bronze medal for Team USA.
Megumi Field, who is part of the Artistic Swimming team, won a silver medal for Team USA.
The Team USA volleyball team, which includes Erik Shoji, the libero, lost in the semifinals against Poland.
Johnny Hooper and the USA men’s water polo team won the bronze medal against Hungary Aug. 11.
Keisei Tominaga, Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe, Hugh Watanabe and Akira Jacobs — all part of Japan’s men’s basketball team — finished winless in Olympic play.
Naomi Osaka and Moyuka Uchijima, Japanese tennis players for the women’s team, lost in the third round of the Olympics and in the opening round in Paris, respectively. On the men’s side, Taro Daniel lost in the first round of men’s doubles.
In surfing, Kanoa Igarashi, who represented Japan, lost in the third round of competition. Connor O’Leary, a Japanese Australian surfer, lost his heat July 29 for Japan.
Representing Japan, Yuka Saso finished the women’s golf competition in 54th place.
Collin Morikawa, who was on the United States men’s golf team, finished tied for 24th.
Gaku Akazawa, who represented Samoa men’s wrestling team, lost to Islam Dudaev of Albania Aug. 10.
Nichi Bei News staff writer Derek Tahara is a Yonsei or fourth-generation Japanese American born and raised in Sunnyvale, Calif. He earned his B.S. in Journalism at the University of Oregon. He is a lifelong fan of the Golden State Warriors and San Francisco Giants.
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