Japanese swimmer Ikee back after leukemia treatment

Japanese swim star Rikako Ikee reacts after a women’s 50-meter freestyle at a local race meet, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020, at Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Tokyo. Ikee, who revealed in February last year she had leukemia, returned to competitive swimming on Saturday. The meet was organized by the Tokyo Swimming Association to give athletes a chance to compete following the cancellation of so many other meets this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.(Kyodo News via AP)

TOKYO — Olympic hopeful Rikako Ikee returned to competitive swimming on Saturday after undergoing treatment for leukemia for more than a year.

The 20-year-old from Japan would have been among the favorites in several races if she had not fallen ill and the Tokyo Olympics had taken place on schedule last month.

Ikee’s best event is probably the 100-meter butterfly where she was nearing the world record until becoming unwell.

She marked her return in a 50-meter freestyle heat in a local meet in Tokyo, clocking 26.32 seconds. Her national record time is 24.21.

Ikee won six gold medals two years ago at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. She is not expected to try to qualify for the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but could target the 2024 edition in Paris.

A month ago she appeared in Tokyo’s new National Stadium where the opening ceremony would have been held. She was part of a brief video message to encourage other athletes to be hopeful the Olympics will take place next year despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local organizers and the International Olympic Committee say the delayed Games will open on July 23, but have given few details how the massive event might he held during a pandemic.