OLYMPIANS’ VIEW OF THE POSTPONED OLYMPICS
BY CHRISTINE KIM
The countdown begins. This week marked 80 days until the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. For eight-time karate U.S. National champion Sakura Kokumai, her journey to the Olympics was anything but normal.
Kokumai, 28, became the first American to qualify for Olympic karate March 18 of last year. Six days later, the Tokyo Games were postponed to 2021.
It had only happened six times since the first Olympic Games began in 1896 – and it was during the World Wars.
Tokyo 2020’s significance is unprecedented. Karate – included in a shortlist with baseball, softball, skateboarding, surfing, and sport climbing – will make their debut. Without the guarantee of being part of the LA 2028 Games and officially not part of Paris 2024, all eyes are on karate for its breakthrough moment.
Two karate disciplines will be featured: kumite and kata. Kumite is strength-controlled sparring. Kata is a solo performance demonstrating power and correctness.
This is her one chance. Kokumai, who practices kata, knows all too well the singular weight she carries for not only her legacy but the blueprint of the sport for future generations.
“As a Japanese American, especially during this time, to go back to Japan to represent the United States means everything to me,” Kokumai said.
With the rising tide of anti-Asian hate crimes, she joins the other Asian American Olympians, Paralympians, and professional athletes to speak out about the racist violence.
Her firsthand experience happened on April 2 at Grijalva Park in Orange County. During her training, a man began shouting at her and drove off yelling racial slurs.
With the rising tide of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian American Olympians, Paralympians, and professional athletes are speaking out about racist violence.
“You’re a loser. Go home, you stupid bitch,” he said in a video Kokumai posted to Instagram. “I’ll fuck you up.”
After an unparalleled year for the Asian American community, Kokumai is meeting the moment to raise awareness and be a beacon of light and inspiration for others to take action and to be better.
UCLA’s 6-foot-one guard, Natalie Chou also took to social media to elevate awareness for the Asian American community.
When Chou landed in San Antonio, Texas, for the long awaited 2021 NCAA Tournament the news of the Atlanta spa shooting flooded her phone.
“I was reading the news and was worried about my mom’s, my family’s safety,” Chou said.
Chou is the daughter of Chinese parents. Her mother, Quanli Li, played for the Chinese National Team. Basketball was a family business.
Her hometown is Dallas – only a few hours away from the tournament. Her mom was able to attend.
But Chou was hesitant. The increase is violence brewed a level of concern and fear.
Her mom replied, “I’ll be fine. I’ll wear my hat, sunglasses, and a mask. No one will know that I’m Asian. People won’t think I’m Chinese.
“That just broke my heart, just her saying that I felt hurt,” Chou said. “Isn’t that a sad way to live.”
For both Chou and Kokumai, despite the ongoing fear and anxiety that parallel the increase of anti-Asian violence, are using their social media platforms to bring more awareness and stand in solidarity with not only the Asian American community, but inclusive of all marginalized groups.
“But the only thing we can do is keep our head held high and be an example in a way that shows the world we are strong and we belong here,” Kokumai said. “I just hope that my experience inspires people in that way. To be kind to one another and make the world a better place.”
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Christine Kim is a graduate student at USC Annenberg pursuing her Master of Science in Journalism. She is participating in a foreign affairs reporting class taught by Professor Phil Seib, a collaboration between the Pacific Council and the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
