(CNN) Rikako Ikee, one of Japan's most talented swimmers and a contender for multiple medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukemia.

The 18-year-old, who was named Japanese Swimmer of the Year last month, won six gold medals at last year's Asian Games and had been expected to challenge for honors at her home Olympics.

"I was feeling ill and urgently came home from Australia, underwent testing and the diagnosis was leukemia," Ikee wrote on Twitter.

"I can't believe it, it's a confusing situation. But with treatment this is a disease that can be cured."

Ikee, the world junior champion in 50 meter freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly, will miss the opportunity to compete at the senior Swimming World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, in July.

Rikako Ikee of Japan celebrates after winning the 50m freestyle at the Asian Games.

Read More</s>Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee has been diagnosed with leukemia less than 18 months before the Olympics in Tokyo.

The 18-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the Asian Games in Jakarta last year and was tipped to be one of the faces of the 2020 Olympics in her home country.

She posted on her verified Twitter account on Tuesday that her illness surfaced when she got tests after returning from a three-week training camp in Australia.

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She says, “I still can’t believe it, and I am in a state of confusion.”

Ikee expressed hopes for recovery but acknowledged she could not compete for a while.

“I will take some days off for now and focus on my treatment to do my utmost so that I can show you as soon as possible an even more powerful Rikako Ikee,” she said.

Winning all six of her gold medals in record times in the Thailand capital propelled her onto the world stage and made her a major name in Japan.

Only North Korean shooter So Gin Man, who won seven golds and a silver at New Delhi in 1982, has won more titles at one Asian Games than Ikee.

Ikee’s gold medal haul was the most for a female athlete at a single Asian Games, and she also picked up two relay silvers to match So’s record tally of eight medals.

The diagnosis will deprive the world junior 50 metre freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly champion of the chance to race at the senior world championships in Gwangju, South Korea later this year.</s>Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee, who won six titles at last year’s Asian Games and was considered a strong medal contender for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, said on Tuesday she had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 18-year-old was named Japanese Swimmer of the Year last month after her record-breaking exploits in the Jakarta pool.

“I was feeling ill and urgently came home from Australia, underwent testing and the diagnosis was leukaemia,” Ikee wrote on Twitter.

“I can’t believe it, it’s a confusing situation. But with treatment this is a disease that can be cured.”

The diagnosis will deprive the world junior 50 metres freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly champion of the chance to race at the senior world championships in Gwangju, South Korea later this year.

Ikee, who swam the fastest time in the world in the 100m butterfly and second fastest in the 50m butterfly last year, said she would miss Japan’s swimming trials to focus on treatment.

“I am going to take some time off and focus on treatment and as soon as possible I want to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee,” she added.

Ikee’s coach Jiro Miki held out hope she could compete in Tokyo, saying the “possibility was not zero”, Kyodo News Agency reported.

“I’m told we wouldn’t have been able to discover the disease in ordinary circumstances,” Kyodo quoted Japan Swimming Federation Vice Chairman Koji Ueno as saying at a news conference.

“We were able to find her irregularities because she was swimming. In that sense, we were able to find the disease early.”

Only North Korean shooter So Gin Man, who won seven golds and a silver at New Delhi in 1982, has won more titles at one Asian Games than Ikee.

Ikee, whose gold medal haul was the most for a female athlete at a single Asian Games, also picked up two relay silvers to match So’s record tally of eight medals.

Winning all six of her gold medals in record times in Jakarta propelled her onto the world stage and made her a major name in Japan. Coming home sixth in the 100m butterfly at the Rio Games as a 16-year-old, Ikee had been expected to compete for medals at Tokyo 2020 but must now focus on getting healthy before thoughts turn to the summer showpiece in 528 days’ time.

After news of Ikee’s illness broke, Japanese rugby player Ayumu Goromaru offered words of support on Twitter, telling her to “Strive on,” while former Olympic swimmer Hanae Ito said: “Everyone is praying”.</s>FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2018, file photo, Japan's Rikako Ikee holds up her gold medal after winning the women's 50m freestyle final during the swimming competition at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. Ikee, the favorite for the 100-meter butterfly for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukemia. Ikee said on her verified Twitter account Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, her illness surfaced when she got tests after returning from Australia not feeling well. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee has been diagnosed with leukemia less than 18 months before the Olympics in Tokyo.

The 18-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the Asian Games in Jakarta last year and was tipped to be one of the faces of the 2020 Olympics in her home country.

She posted on her verified Twitter account Tuesday that her illness surfaced when she got tests after returning from a training trip to Australia.

"I still can't believe it, and I am in a state of confusion," she wrote.

Officials of the Japan Swimming Federation called a news conference and said Ikee was at a hospital being treated.

Ikee expressed hopes for recovery but acknowledged she could not compete for a while.

"I will take some days off for now and focus on my treatment to do my utmost so that I can show you as soon as possible an even more powerful Rikako Ikee," she said.

Ikee is among the world's best in the 100-meter butterfly, an event where she is close to breaking the world record of 55.48 seconds held by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. She swam 56.08 last year and talked about being able to break that mark.

"If everything goes well, I think I will be able to set the world record," she told The Associated Press in an interview after being selected as MVP at the Asian Games.

Her other top race is the 200-meter freestyle.

Ikee wrote optimistically on Twitter about her chance for a recovery.

"It is a sickness for which there is recovery with proper treatment," she said. "It would make me happy if you would all continue to warmly watch over me."

Ikee has been a highly regarded junior swimmer and finished sixth in the 100-fly almost three years ago in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.</s>TOKYO — Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee has been diagnosed with leukemia less than 18 months before the Olympics in Tokyo.

The 18-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the Asian Games in Jakarta last year and was tipped to be one of the faces of the 2020 Olympics in her home country.

She posted on her verified Twitter account Tuesday that her illness surfaced when she got tests after returning from a training trip to Australia.

"I still can't believe it, and I am in a state of confusion," she wrote.

Officials of the Japan Swimming Federation called a news conference and said Ikee was at a hospital being treated.

Ikee expressed hopes for recovery but acknowledged she could not compete for a while.

"I will take some days off for now and focus on my treatment to do my utmost so that I can show you as soon as possible an even more powerful Rikako Ikee," she said.

Ikee is among the world's best in the 100-meter butterfly, an event where she is close to breaking the world record of 55.48 seconds held by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden. She swam 56.08 last year and talked about being able to break that mark.

"If everything goes well, I think I will be able to set the world record," she told The Associated Press in an interview after being selected as MVP at the Asian Games.

Her other top race is the 200-meter freestyle.

Ikee wrote optimistically on Twitter about her chance for a recovery.

"It is a sickness for which there is recovery with proper treatment," she said. "It would make me happy if you would all continue to warmly watch over me."

Ikee has been a highly regarded junior swimmer and finished sixth in the 100-fly almost three years ago in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.</s>Japanese swimmer Rikako Ikee, who won six titles at the last year's Asian Games and was considered a strong medal contender for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, said on Tuesday she had been diagnosed with leukaemia.

The 18-year-old was named Japanese Swimmer of the Year last month after her record-breaking exploits in the Jakarta pool.

"I was feeling ill and urgently came home from Australia, underwent testing and the diagnosis was leukaemia. I can't believe it, it's a confusing situation. But, with treatment this is a disease that can be cured," Ikee tweeted.

The diagnosis will deprive the world junior 50-meter freestyle, 50m butterfly and 100m butterfly champion of the chance to race at the senior world championships in Gwangju, South Korea later this year.

Ikee, who swam the fastest time in the world in the 100m butterfly and second fastest in the 50m butterfly last year, said that she would miss Japan's swimming trials to focus on treatment.

"I am going to take some time off and focus on treatment and as soon as possible I want to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee," she added.

Only North Korean shooter So Gin Man, who won seven golds and a silver at New Delhi in 1982, has won more titles at one Asian Games than Ikee.

Ikee, whose gold medal haul was the most for a female athlete at a single Asian Games, also picked up two relay silvers to match So's record tally of eight medals.

Winning all six of her gold medals in record times in Jakarta propelled her onto the world stage and made her a major name in Japan.

Coming home sixth in the 100m butterfly at the Rio Games as a 16-year-old, Ikee had been expected to compete for medals at Tokyo 2020 but must now focus on getting healthy before thoughts turn to the summer showpiece in 528 days time.</s>This week Japanese swimming star Rikako Ikee announced that she has been diagnosed with leukemia and is starting treatment for the cancer. Ikee, 18, won six gold medals at the 2018 Asians and was expected to contend for several medals at the 2020 Olympics, which are being hosted in Tokyo.

While most people would be concerned for her well-being and only that, Tokyo 2020 Olympics Minister Yoshitaka Sakurada expressed his concern that Ikee’s absence from the Games will dampen enthusiasm for the home Olympics.

According to Asahi, Sakurada said:

“On the 12th, according to an NHK report, Sakurada said about Rikako Ikee’s diagnosis ‘She’s an athlete that Japan has put high expectations on, so of course [the diagnosis] is disappointing. Of course, I hope for a speedy recovery. But I am worried that excitement will decrease.’”

Well, at least he also wished her a speedy recovery.

This comment did not go over well with other officials. Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a politician from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said, “Of course you’d say that as Olympics [commissioner], but you can’t say that as a human being.”

Kazuhiro Haraguchi of the National Democratic Party, said, “I can’t overlook this heartless remark. It deserves a quick dismissal.”

All Japanese text was translated by Victoria Song.</s>Eighteen-year-old Rikako Ikee hopes to overcome her battle with leukemia before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

TOKYO, Japan – Japanese swim queen Rikako Ikee, the poster girl for next year's Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukemia, the 18-year-old tweeted on Tuesday, February 12.

In a shock announcement, Ikee said: "After feeling unwell I returned in haste from Australia and following tests I was diagnosed with leukemia. I still can't believe it myself, I'm in a state of confusion."

Ikee shot to fame at last year's Asian Games, where she captured a record 6 gold medals to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city.

The teenage superstar, who holds a string of national records, has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women's 100 metres butterfly.

Ikee told fans she was determined to beat her illness after being forced to abandon her training camp on Australia's Gold Coast.

"If treated properly it's a disease that can be beaten," said Ikee, who confirmed she will withdraw from the Japanese championships in April.

"I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee."

Ikee's coach Jiro Miki confessed he had never seen the swimmer struggle as much as she had while training in Australia.

"I had never seen her breathing as heavily as that," he said.

"We took her to a local hospital to check her blood and heart but decided to return to Japan as quickly as possible to undergo further tests. But as for her motivation to beat this disease, I can only bow my head at her determination."

Miki revealed that Ikee has been admitted to hospital to begin treatment.

"She is not moping about," he added. "She is absolutely positive about beating this as quickly as possible."

Ikee stole the headlines from giant Chinese swimmer Sun Yang at the Asian Games in Jakarta as she finished with 8 medals in total, a haul previously achieved only by North Korean shooter So Gin-man in 1982.

Japan's new swimming pin-up would have gone into this year's world championships in South Korea as a strong favorite in the 100m butterfly, while also a threat in the 200m freestyle.

After her breakout performance in Jakarta, Ikee told AFP that she welcomed the pressure to produce at the Tokyo Olympics.

"Pressure for me is something I thrive on," she said. "There will be a lot of Japanese fans cheering for me at the Tokyo Olympics in my home city – maybe even some from overseas too – and that's going to give me great strength.

"The more fans that come, the stronger I'll be," added Ikee. "When it comes to swimming, I just really hate to lose."

Japanese swim officials were left stunned by the news after Ikee's return to Japan late last week.

"I could never imagine Ikee could suffer an illness like this," said Japan Swimming Federation vice-president Koji Ueno, noting that doctors believe they detected the disease in its early stages.

"It's just so very hard to comprehend. It is a severe diagnosis and a tough road back but we would ask everyone for their warm prayers to help her make a full recovery. We want to do everything we can to allow her to compete at the Tokyo Olympics."

Ikee can take strength from several top athletes who beat cancer, including cyclist Lance Armstrong and ice hockey star Mario Lemieux.

Closer to home, former Australia rugby international Christian Lealiifano overcame leukemia and currently plays for Super Rugby's Brumbies, while Malaysia's former badminton world number one Lee Chong Wei is set to return to the sport after recovering from nose cancer. – Rappler.com</s>Japanese swim queen Rikako Ikee, the poster girl for next year's Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the 18-year-old tweeted yesterday.

In a shock announcement, Ikee said: "After feeling unwell, I returned in haste from Australia and following tests I was diagnosed with leukaemia.

"I still can't believe it myself, I'm in a state of confusion."

Ikee shot to fame at last year's Asian Games, where she captured a record six gold medals to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city.

The teenage superstar, who holds a string of national records, has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women's 100 metres butterfly.

Ikee told fans she was determined to beat her illness after being forced to abandon her training camp in Australia's Gold Coast.

"If treated properly it's a disease that can be beaten," said Ikee, who confirmed she will withdraw from the Japanese championships in April.

"I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee."

Her coach Jiro Miki confessed he had never seen the swimmer struggle as much as she had while training in Australia.

"I had never seen her breathing as heavily as that," he said.

"We took her to a local hospital to check her blood and heart, but decided to return to Japan as quickly as possible to undergo further tests.

"But as for her motivation to beat this disease, I can only bow my head at her determination.

"She is not moping about. She is absolutely positive about beating this as quickly as possible."

Ikee stole the headlines from giant Chinese swimmer Sun Yang at the Asian Games in Jakarta, where she finished with eight medals in total.</s>Japan’s swim queen Rikako Ikee, a genuine gold medal hope at next year’s Tokyo Olympics, has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the 18-year-old tweeted on Tuesday.

In a shock announcement, Ikee said: “After feeling unwell I returned in haste from Australia and following tests I was diagnosed with leukaemia. I still can’t believe it myself and I’m in a state of confusion.”

Ikee captured a record six gold medals at last year’s Asian Games to fire a warning for the 2020 Olympics in her home city, where she has been tipped to push for gold on several fronts, in particular in the women’s 100 metres butterfly.

Japan’s swimming superstar assured fans she was determined to beat her illness.

“I will devote myself to my treatment and strive to be able to show an even stronger Rikako Ikee.”
Rikako Ikee, 18-year-old Japanese swimmer who won six gold medals at 2018 Asian Games, announces that she has been diagnosed with leukemia.