競技歴2年で日本一　全国総体で「自分超え」、日本高校新記録へー　ウエイト女子58キロ級・島袋紗羽（嘉手納高3年）

As many athletes enter their final preparations for the National High School Athletic Meet, which kicks off in July, the Kadena High School weightlifting club, led by an Olympic coach, continues its intense training. Among them is a top contender aiming to surpass their own personal best. ◆ ◆ ◆ With a 40kg weight, they squat and jump. The athletes push themselves to the limit with rigorous training. "It's harder when you stop!" "It's tough, isn't it? That's the important thing. We don't do anything that isn't tough." Leading the Kadena High School weightlifting club's demanding training is Mari Taira, who placed 7th at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and served as the head coach of the Japanese women's team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Even during tough training, the athletes show smiles. The joy that lies beyond the rigor was taught to them by Coach Taira and one other person: Sawa Shimabukuro, a third-year student in the women's 58kg class. Having won the National High School Selection Tournament in March, she is a top contender for the championship at the National High School Athletic Meet in the summer. Her teammates include… ★Hicks Ariana Sakura (3rd year) "Sawa has to surpass me, so I'm trying to surpass her. Having strong people around me makes me stronger. As long as Sawa is around, I feel like I'm getting stronger too." Shimabukuro is an inspiration to those around her. She played soccer in elementary school and dedicated herself to basketball in middle school. Her strong lower body led her to switch to weightlifting in high school, and in just two years of competition, she has shown remarkable growth, surprising those around her. ★Kadena High School Weightlifting Club, Coach Mari Taira "It exceeded my expectations. She's currently at the level of 80kg in the snatch and 100kg in the clean and jerk, and there aren't many athletes in this weight class who can reach that level in such a short time." ★Sawa Shimabukuro "It used to be like, 'I want to have fun,' then 'Club activities,' but now it's all about club activities. It's all weightlifting." With a coach who knows the world, she's starting to focus on the world stage. She's also conscious of her diet and sleep, and her high school life is completely dedicated to weightlifting. "I consulted with Coach Taira about what I was lacking, and we talked about a lot of things and I listened." And so, she aimed for a spot in the Asian Junior Championships and competed in the National High School Selection Tournament. She won her first national championship, but knee pain forced her to abandon her attempt to meet the Asian Junior qualifying standard. "It ended in disappointment. I was happy to win, but the feeling of disappointment outweighed the joy, and it was tough. People are congratulating me, but that's not my goal." Weightlifting, where the physical strain and risk of injury increase as records improve. The coach understands the difficulty of competing on the world stage better than anyone. ★Coach Mari Taira: "I think it's a battle against fear. An athlete's challenge to break records is like that. There's also the physical strain." "That decision (to abandon the challenge) might be disappointing, but I think it shows the strength of someone looking towards the world. It's something you do when it matters most." Challenging records should only be done when in perfect condition. With just over two weeks until the National High School Championships, she aims for "more than" being number one in Japan. ★Sawa Shimabukuro: "I think being number one in the nation, and number one in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total, is the minimum. I want to aim for a personal best and a new Japanese high school record." With confidence from the training she's done with her mentor, she aims for a summer where she surpasses herself. [Interview Memo] At the National High School Selection Championships, Shimabukuro won overwhelmingly, beating the second-place finisher by 16 kg despite experiencing knee pain. The National Inter-High School Championships are a battle against himself. If he can improve his condition and increase his success rate, he'll be able to break the Japanese high school record in the snatch. Keep an eye on his challenge to achieve this record, alongside Coach Taira, who has international experience. (Reiko Shimoji) Broadcast July 17, 2026 --- ▶ Please subscribe to our channel    / @rbcnewslink   ▶ RBC NEWS DIG Official Website (within TBS NEWS DIG) https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/list/news/rbc ▶ Submit your video here: "RBC Scoop Submission" https://www.rbc.co.jp/news/toukou/