Nickname
Ha-chan, Haki (tv-asahi.co.jp, 17 Sep 2022)
Hobbies
Watching YouTube videos. (tv-asahi.co.jp, 17 Sep 2022)
Occupation
Student
Spoken languages
Japanese
Club
Chukyo Gymnastics Club: Nagoya, JPN
Coach
Hikaru Tanaka [national], JPN
Start sporting career
She took up gymnastics at age two.
Reason for taking up the sport
She was influenced by her older sister.
Milestones
At age 18 years and 91 days, she became the youngest female artistic gymnast representing Japan to win a gold medal at the world championships when she was victorious on balance beam at the 2022 edition of the tournament in Liverpool, England. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Nov 2022; nikkansports.com, 07 Nov 2022)
Hero / Idol
Japanese artistic gymnast Asuka Teramoto. (tv-asahi.co.jp, 17 Sep 2022)
Rituals
Before performing, she inhales for four seconds, holds for seven seconds, and then exhales for eight seconds. (tv-asahi.co.jp, 17 Sep 2022)
Philosophy / Motto
"Where there is a will, there is a way." (tv-asahi.co.jp, 17 Sep 2022)
Additional information
FROM RESERVE TO WORLD CHAMPION
She was initially named as a reserve for the Japanese team for the 2022 World Championships in Liverpool, England, but an injury to teammate Arisa Kasahara meant Watanabe had the opportunity to compete in Liverpool. She went on to win gold on balance beam on her world championship debut. "At first I was the reserve for the team, but when there was an injury they changed it and I got a chance to come to the world championships. That was my first surprise. Now I have a medal too. It is all a bit surprising." (intlgymnast.com, 13 Nov 2022; nikkansports.com, 07 Nov 2022)
Last update : 2024-07-22
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