Konomi Asazu (Faculty of Letters), member of women's track and field team of Physical Education League of Association of Student Clubs, has been selected to represent Japan in women's bobsleigh at the February 12-28 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

This is the first time in Chuo University's 125 year history that a female student has been chosen to represent Japan in the Winter Olympics.

In 2008, Asazu won the heptathlon at the Inter-University Athletic Championships, and placed second last year in the same event.

Gaining a reputation for her high physical ability, Asazu took part in a camp for prospective Japanese representatives last autumn, and was chosen to represent Japan through a strict selection process.

Afterwards, she paired with Manami Hino (Hokuto Hospital) in the World Cup and confirmed her place on the Olympic team.

Send-Off Party

On January 30th, a send-off party was held for Asazu on the 4th floor of Hilltop '78 at Tama Campus.

A total of about 70 people were in attendance, mainly made up of the women's track and field team, track and field team alumni, members of the "Strengthen the Hakone Ekiden Association", and Chuo University sport fans. After a rousing message of support from the Chair of the Board of Regents, head of the women's track and field team alumni, Yoshie Hamamatsu, gave some words of encouragement by saying, "You've done well, Konomi. We are all counting on you," as well introducing a few anecdotes from Asazu's past.

Long-time stalwart and captain of the women's track and field team, Takayuki Shiibashi (Chuo University Vice-President), also gave a speech, followed by coach Kensaku Takahashi's enlivening encouragement, with the party being finished off with the screening of a supporters video, put together by the women's track and field team alumni, and featuring moving messages from Asazu's seniors and juniors, her high school coach and her father. These messages are certain to give Asazu an emotional boost just before the Olympics.

In bobsleigh, with equipment (approximately 15 million yen) and overseas touring costs being considerably high compared to other sports, the personal expenses for individual athletes can be too great to bear, and it could be said that their only hope is to rely on the support and cooperation from manyothers . This being the case, when presented with a cash donation by University President Nagai at the send-off party, Asazu could hardly hide her emotions.

Asazu rounded off proceedings with a speech by saying energetically, "I'd like to thank everyone for giving me such a wonderful party. I will do my best at the Olympics."

We all have high expectations for Asazu.

[Background]
1986 Born in Shimane Prefecture
March 2005 Graduated from Izumo Hokuryo High School
April 2005 Entered the Education Department, Faculty of Letters, Chuo University, majoring in psychology(current student)

*Started athletics in the fourth grade of primary school, specialized in triathlon at junior high school and heptathlon at high school. Started bobsleigh in August 2009.

[Notable Records] (Heptathlon)
2004 Inter-High 3rd 2007 (86th) Kanto Inter-University Athletic Championships 1st 2008 (87th) Kanto Inter-University Athletic Championships 1st 2008 (92nd) Japan National Championships 2nd 2008 (77th) Inter-University Athletic Championships 1st

[Notable Records] (Women's Bobsleigh)
November	2009	World Cup Opening Round 21st World Cup Round 2 no placing
December	2009	European Cup Round 4 14th European Cup Round 5 11th Japan Bobsleigh and Skeleton Championships 1st
January	2010	World Cup Round 6 18th World Cup Round 7 18th World Cup Round 8 21st

The women's bobsleigh preliminary games will take place at 5pm Tuesday, February 23 (10am Wednesday, February 24, Japan time) at Canada's Whistler Sliding Centre.
We hope you will all cheer her on.

Click here to see a related article from Hakumon Chuo Early Spring 2009 Edition (Japanese).