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| OTA Yuki |
| NOC |
Japan
|
| Gender | Men |
| Born |
25 Nov 1985
in Otsu, JPN
|
| Height | 1.71 m |
| Weight | 69 kg |
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Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English, Japanese |
| Higher education |
Commerce - Doshisha University: Kyoto, JPN |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He began fencing in his third year of primary school. |
| Why this sport? |
His father encouraged him to try the sport. |
| Handedness |
Right |
International Debut |
| Year |
2003 |
| Competing for |
Japan |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Tanuki (fencingfan.net, 01 Nov 2015) |
| Injuries |
He injured his finger ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (itolator.co.jp, 26 Feb 2015)
He broke his hip when he was a high school student. (jump.co.jp, 12 Oct 2006) |
| Awards and honours |
In 2015 he received the Otsu City Special Sports Award in Japan. (sankei.com, 22 Jul 2015)
In 2008 and 2012 he was given an Honorary Award at the Kyoto Sports Award Ceremony in Japan. (news24.jp, 22 Aug 2012) |
| Other information |
RETIREMENT
He announced his retirement from the sport in December 2016. (nikkansports.com, 04 Dec 2016)
CAREER
He reflected on his career following a surprise loss to Brazilian fencer Guilherme Toldo in the first round of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. "I feel like I have a clear perspective [on my career], as if I could walk away with no regrets. It was a good career. Without fencing I wouldn't have met 99% of my friends or my older or younger colleagues, I'm really grateful for that. It's typical of me to stumble at the end." (Kyodo News, 07 Aug 2016)
NATIONAL FIRST
He became the first Japanese fencer to win gold at the world championships when he claimed victory in individual foil at the 2015 edition in Moscow, Russian Federation. (SportsDeskOnline, 10 Mar 2016; fie.org, 24 Jul 2015)
HIATUS
He took a break from the sport after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. In 2013 Japanese national coach Oleg Matseichuk persuaded him to make a return to the sport after highlighting the number of other fencers still competing at international level despite being in their 30s. (tokyo-sports.co.jp, 20 Jul 2015; sportiva.shueisha.co.jp, 14 Aug 2014)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He was elected president of the International Fencing Federation [FIE] Athletes' Commission in November 2013. He served as an ambassador for Tokyo's 2020 Olympic Games bid, and also hosts an annual foil fencing tournament called the Yuki Ota Cup for primary school students in Japan, with assistance from the Morinaga club. (asahi.com, 06 Feb 2016, 04 Dec 2013; fie.org, 30 Nov 2013; sankei.jp.msn.com, 08 Sep 2013; sports-biz.co.jp, 09 Nov 2012) |
| Olympic Games |
| 2012 |
2 |
Team Foil |
London, England |
| 2008 |
2 |
Individual Foil |
Beijing, China |
| World Championships |
| 2015 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Moscow, Russia |
| 2015 |
7 |
Team Foil |
Moscow, Russia |
| 2011 |
5 |
Team Foil |
Catania, Italy |
| 2010 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
Paris, France |
| 2010 |
3 |
Team Foil |
Paris, France |
| 2009 |
5 |
Team Foil |
Antalya, Turkey |
| 2006 |
7 |
Team Foil |
Turin, Italy |
| Asian Championships |
| 2016 |
5 |
Individual Foil |
Wuxi, China |
| 2015 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Singapore, Singapore |
| 2015 |
3 |
Team Foil |
Singapore, Singapore |
| 2012 |
3 |
Individual Foil |
Wakayama, Japan |
| 2011 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Seoul, Korea |
| 2010 |
2 |
Team Foil |
Seoul, Korea |
| 2009 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Doha, Qatar |
| 2008 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Bangkok, Thailand |
| 2007 |
1 |
Individual Foil |
Nantong, China |
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