Natsumi Hoshi Confirms Retirement From Competitive Swimming

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Natsumi Hoshi confirmed her retirement from the sport of swimming at a press conference held Tuesday, October 4th in Tokyo.

Hoshi announced at the press conference that “the biggest [reason for retirement] is that I gave my all at the Rio Olympics. I watched my race a number of times, but I didn’t get the feeling of frustration like before. I gave everything I had an am satisfied.”

The 26-year old made history for Japan when she became the first woman to win an individual gold medal at a World Championships in 2015 in the 200 fly. Hoshi also boasts two bronze medals in the women’s 200-meter fly from the 2012 London Olympic Games and 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

While Hoshi has been a staple in international competition for years, her impact on the sport becomes even more awe-inspiring due to her struggle with Graves’ disease. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disease that results in an excessive production of the thyroid production, which resulted in the Olympian having her thyroid gland surgically removed in November 2014.

Hoshi noted that, “I’ve had to deal with illness and surgery, but because I went through these things, I was able to genuinely think that I love to swim and that I want to return to the pool again. A lot has happened, but to sum it up, I led a competitive career.”

In addition to announcing her retirement, Hoshi confirmed that she will stay in the sport as an assistance coach “with the swim team of sporting goods maker Mizuno Corp.”

Read the full report from The Japan Times here.

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Yixin Zhong

7 years ago

Sounds fatanstic