The leader of Japan's women's Olympic gymnastics squad is expected to return from Europe following claims she was seen smoking.
According to reports by Kyodo News in Japan, Shoko Miyata may depart from her team's training facilities in Monaco ahead of the Paris Olympics starting next week. Smoking is against Japanese law for anyone under 20 years old and at 19, Miyata falls into that category.
Miyata was noticeably absent during a recent training session on Wednesday. The head of development within Japan's gymnastics association, Hikaru Tanaka, acknowledged that there were specific reasons for her absence.
As the current national champion in Japan, Miyata has notched bronze in beam events at the 2022 world championship and finished fifth overall in the all-around competition. While Japan's men secured gold in gymnastics during the 2016 Olympics, their women have yet to win a team medal since 1964. The last individual artistic gymnastics medal for Japanese women was earned by Mai Murakami at the 2020 Games with her bronze on the floor exercise.
Read next
Alexéi Rojas Urges Arsenal: "Fix Our Sustainability Practices with Passion"
Alexéi Rojas, former Arsenal goalkeeper, is known for his unique approach to both his career and environmental advocacy. "I enjoy being distinct in my identity and actions," Rojas says. His passion for being different led him to choose the goalkeeper position, where he now focuses on both saving
Browns Remain the Browns, and Deshaun Watson Stays True to Himself
On a day anticipated to be a celebration of Deshaun Watson's return, the New York Jets were not quite prepared for the reality of the game. Fans had hoped for a triumphant performance from Watson, which would have reinforced the Cleveland Browns' status as Super Bowl contenders.
Eliud Kipchoge Triumphs in His First Marathon in Three Years, Claiming His Body Is Still at Its Best
Eliud Kipchoge, often regarded as Marathon's greatest competitor, has announced to the next generation of athletes that he remains active in the sport. The 41-year-old Kenyan celebrated his impressive debut at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, setting a new race record and captivating thousands of fans