Swimmer Rikako Ikee, who has been battling leukemia since last year, said Thursday she intends to return to competition in early October.
The 19-year-old university sophomore allowed the media online access to her practice in Tokyo, and spoke to a group of reporters for the first time since revealing her diagnosis in February 2019.
"My current goal is the Japan intercollegiate championships," Ikee said. "I'm practicing hard under the belief there will be a tournament."