Words of encouragement poured in for swimming star Rikako Ikee on Tuesday after she revealed she had been diagnosed with leukemia.
Ikee, an 18-year-old Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal hopeful who became the first female athlete to be named MVP at the 2018 Asian Games, is now hospitalized and doctors believe her cancer is at an early stage.
Soccer player Fumiya Hayakawa, who is on the comeback trail with the J. League's Albirex Niigata after his own two-year battle with leukemia, sent a message of encouragement to Ikee following her announcement.