Rikako Ikee<\/strong> is competing in the Japan Student Swimming Championships this week, just her second swim meet back after beginning her battle with leukemia.<\/p>\n

After nearly 10 months of hospital care and treatment, she returned to the water a month ago. With more training, this week, she finished fourth in the 50 free in 25.62, dropping nearly a second from her first competition back last month.<\/p>\n

Runa Imai<\/strong> won the race in 24.93, a meet record and the second-fastest Japanese time in history \u2014 second to Ikee\u2019s 24.21 in 2018.<\/p>\n

In the men\u2019s race, Masahiro Kawane<\/strong> won in 22.19. Results here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

$\"mckeon-macneil-sjostrom-ikee-honor\"$
Emma McKeon, Maggie McNeil, Sarah Sjostrom – ‘fly aces send heartfelt wishes and pay tribute to the absent Rikako Ikee on the podium at the 2019 World Championships in Gwangju – Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant<\/p><\/div>\n
Ikee has been supported by the swimming community since the news of her diagnosis. At the 2019 World Championships, competitors from around the world honored her with messages on their hands.<\/p>\n
Ikee, the Japanese record holder in the 100 and 200 free and the 50 and 100 butterfly, has worked hard to regain her strength during her comeback.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone was telling me I look different, that I put on muscle,\u201d Rikako Ikee told The Olympic Channel.\u201d \u201cI was stronger than I realized. I was lifting two times a week and I think it\u2019s paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n
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pic.twitter.com\/qf8NsDy87D<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 \u6c60\u6c5f \u7483\u82b1\u5b50 (@rikakoikee) September 21, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n