Mayumi Narita
Encyclopedia
is a Japan
ese swimmer, described as "one of the world’s best Paralympic athletes" by the International Paralympic Committee
. Japan Today
has described her as a "swimming sensation perhaps as great as the Thorpedo
but whose name few know". She has won 15 gold medals
at the Paralympics
, and 20 total.
Narita has used a wheelchair because of myelitis
since the age of 13; in 1994, additionally, she was involved in a traffic accident which left her quadriplegic
. In 1996, she represented Japan at the Paralympic Games
in Atlanta, where she won two gold medals, two silver and one bronze. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics
in Sydney
, she won six gold medals. She also set five world records at the Sydney Games.
Narita competed again at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
in Athens
, and was the Games' most successful athlete, of any nationality and in any sport. She set six world records, seven Paralympic records, and won seven gold medals and one bronze medal.
In 2005, she was given the Best Female Athlete award by the International Paralympic Committee, the Best Male Athlete award going to Brazil's Clodoaldo Silva
.
Narita is currently vice chair of the Tokyo 2016
Athletes' Commission.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese swimmer, described as "one of the world’s best Paralympic athletes" by the International Paralympic Committee
International Paralympic Committee
The International Paralympic Committee is an international non-profit organisation and the global governing body for the Paralympic Movement. The IPC organizes the Paralympic Games and functions as the international federation for nine sports...
. Japan Today
Japan Today
Japan Today is an online newspaper based in Tokyo, Japan. Launched in September 2000 Japan Today publishes original content in English such as interviews and news stories, as well as translations of articles from popular Japanese magazines and newspapers. They are hosted by GPlus Media Co. Ltd....
has described her as a "swimming sensation perhaps as great as the Thorpedo
Ian Thorpe
Ian James Thorpe OAM , nicknamed the Thorpedo and Thorpey, is an Australian swimmer who specialises in freestyle, but also competes in backstroke and the individual medley. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and with three gold and two silver medals, was the most...
but whose name few know". She has won 15 gold medals
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the Paralympics
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
, and 20 total.
Narita has used a wheelchair because of myelitis
Myelitis
Myelitis is a disease involving inflammation of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs. The name is derived from Greek referring to the "spinal cord", and the suffix -itis, which denotes inflammation....
since the age of 13; in 1994, additionally, she was involved in a traffic accident which left her quadriplegic
Quadriplegia
Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is paralysis caused by illness or injury to a human that results in the partial or total loss of use of all their limbs and torso; paraplegia is similar but does not affect the arms...
. In 1996, she represented Japan at the Paralympic Games
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
in Atlanta, where she won two gold medals, two silver and one bronze. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, she won six gold medals. She also set five world records at the Sydney Games.
Narita competed again at the 2004 Summer Paralympics
2004 Summer Paralympics
The 2004 Summer Paralympics were held in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to September 28. The twelfth Paralympic Games, an estimated 4,000 athletes took part in the Athens programme, with ages ranging from 11 to 66. Paralympic events had already taken place during the 2004 Summer Olympics as...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, and was the Games' most successful athlete, of any nationality and in any sport. She set six world records, seven Paralympic records, and won seven gold medals and one bronze medal.
In 2005, she was given the Best Female Athlete award by the International Paralympic Committee, the Best Male Athlete award going to Brazil's Clodoaldo Silva
Clodoaldo Silva
Clodoaldo Silva is a Brazilian swimmer.Silva competed at the 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, winning three silver medals and one bronze. He competed again at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he set four world records, five Paralympic records, and won six gold medals and one silver...
.
Narita is currently vice chair of the Tokyo 2016
Tokyo 2016 Olympic bid
The Tokyo bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics was an unsuccessful campaign, first recognized by the International Olympic Committee on September 14, 2007...
Athletes' Commission.
See also
- Athletes with most gold medals in one event at the Paralympic Games