Eight is great - Ikee claims record Asian Games medal tally

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP):

The haul of medals in a record collection at the Asian Games for Rikako Ikee will increase the weight of expectation on her at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The 18-year-old Japanese swimmer capped a remarkable week in the Jakarta pool by winning the 50m freestyle yesterday to claim her sixth gold. It was also her eighth medal overall at the meet, equalling the total for a single Asian Games set in 1982 by North Korean shooter So Gin Man.

With six gold and two silvers, she is the most successful female athlete at one edition of the Games.

"Of all my races, I was the most nervous before this one," Ikee said. "I really hate losing. I think it was just my willpower that helped me win.

"I was really hurting in the last few metres but I just concentrated on the touch, and luckily, I got there first, but I used up all my energy."

Ikee held off China's Liu Xiang and Wu Qingfeng to clock 24.53 seconds and follow up her wins in the 100 freestyle, the 50 and 100 butterfly, and two relays. She also competed at the Pan Pacifics in Tokyo against swimmers from the United States and Australia, winning a gold there in the 100 fly before flying to Jakarta.