Overcoming adversity through cheerfulness: Insights from athlete Sayuri Sugimoto [Sports Chronicles]
Sayuri Sugimoto, a 23-year-old member of Toyota Motor Corporation's External & Public Affairs Division, leads the Japanese rhythmic gymnastics team known as "Fairy Japan." The team has been making waves in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, with a strong start in the 2019 season and a promising outlook for the upcoming Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships and Tokyo 2020.
Sugimoto's journey in rhythmic gymnastics began at the tender age of six, inspired by her older sister who was a rhythmic gymnast herself. Initially reluctant to share techniques, Sugimoto's sister became her biggest supporter after retiring from the sport. In 2009, Sugimoto successfully auditioned for Japan's national B team at the age of 13.
The team, under the guidance of coach Inna Bystrova, travels frequently to Russia for training. This rigorous training regime has paid off, with Sugimoto's team winning the silver in the group ribbon event at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in 2015, earning Japan's first medal in 40 years.
To build confidence, Sugimoto's team has turned up the pressure on itself by setting success-rate targets for maneuver execution during practice. This discipline has helped the team maintain a high level of performance, and their hard work is evident in their routines.
One of the team's performances, for the ball category, tells a 'journey' storyline, accompanied by very bright and cheerful music. In the hoop & club events, Sugimoto expects strong melodies, and she plans to attempt a unique apparatus manipulation, where two clubs are placed on a hoop, the arrangement is kicked into the air, the hoop flies forward, and the clubs shoot straight up.
Rhythmic gymnastics scoring consists of a difficulty score (derived using a point-addition scoring system) and an execution score (derived using a point-deduction scoring system). With a rule change in 2018, there is no longer a limit placed on the difficulty score, and greater point deductions are given for mistakes.
This year, the apparatuses designated for use in rhythmic gymnastics competition are the ball and the hoop & club. The team lives together and trains for eight hours a day, but tensions never escalate to arguing. Sugimoto, as captain, is mindful of using words that suit each team member's personality.
After an all-members meeting, Sugimoto decided to stay on as captain to respond to the feelings of the team's other members. Despite not medaling in the group all-around competition at the 2018 world championships, Sugimoto initially considered stepping down as captain. However, she realised that her continued leadership was important for the team's morale.
The 2019 Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships will be an important preliminary event before Tokyo 2020. Sugimoto and her teammates are off to an excellent start, with a silver win in the group all-around competition at the Grand Prix of Moscow, out-performing long-time rival Russia in ball and hoop & club performances.
Sugimoto's motto is "Fortune comes in by a merry gate," which she applies to rhythmic gymnastics, the team, and herself. She believes that winning or losing depends on to what degree teams can freely perform with confidence, and teams are required to include artistic "charm" in their routines.
As the world watches, Fairy Japan is poised to make a significant impact in the world of rhythmic gymnastics, with Sugimoto's leadership and dedication driving the team towards success.
