#Japan #Saitama #Taiyo Holdings #Yoshihide Kiryu #Olympic Medals

Silver Medalist Inspiration

On November 27th, Taiyo Holdings hosted a special class titled "The Driving Force to Challenge the World - Enjoying Challenges" featuring Olympic silver medalist Yoshihide Kiryu. The event took place at the National Women's Education Center in Saitama Prefecture, aiming to inspire middle school students from Sugaya, Tamanoaka, and Otsuma Arashiyama schools.

Taiyo Holdings, headquartered in Tokyo, constantly strives to create a joyful society through innovative global initiatives. As part of this mission, the company actively seeks to mix educational opportunities with the experiences of accomplished athletes to motivate young individuals to embrace challenges.

During the special class, the Mayor of Arashiyama, Mr. Takamitsu Sakuma, opened the event, welcoming the students and introducing Kiryu, who was met with enthusiastic applause as he stepped onto the stage.

Kiryu reflected on his own aspirations as a teenager, recalling his dream of becoming an athlete and competing in the Olympics. He passionately advised students to recognize that enjoying activities they love is a pathway to discovering their dreams. His personal anecdotes resonated with the students, as he encouraged them to pursue their passions relentlessly.

The students had the opportunity to ask Kiryu questions, leading to meaningful discussions. One student inquired, "When you feel burnt out after striving hard but facing setbacks, how do you cope?" Kiryu responded thoughtfully, explaining, "If you focus solely on one goal, you might feel spent after achieving it. I continuously write down multiple goals and dreams, and I strive towards them persistently."

As the session drew to a close, a student expressed gratitude, stating, "We will continue to support you as you excel on the global stage, Kiryu-san." In turn, Kiryu motivated the students, urging them, "Please do not hesitate to face various challenges in life."

This experience stood out as a valuable lesson about resilience and the significance of enjoying challenges, imparted by a world-class athlete.

Kiryu's Career Highlights

Yoshihide Kiryu, born on December 15, 1995, in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, has had a remarkable journey in athletics. Beginning his track career in middle school, he set a junior Japanese record of 10.01 seconds in high school.
After transitioning to Toyo University, he showcased his talent at various competitions, culminating in winning a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. In September of the following year, he became the first Japanese athlete to clock in the 9 seconds for the 100m with a record time of 9.98 seconds. His accolades include a gold medal in the 100m at the 2019 Asian Championships and a bronze medal in the World Championships, where he helped set a new Asian record in the 4x100m relay.

Recently, he defended his title at the Japanese Athletics Championships, winning for the third time in five years and achieving another personal best of 9.99 seconds in the 100m event at the Mt. Fuji World Trials.

Conclusion

The special class organized by Taiyo Holdings not only aimed at promoting athletic spirit but also emphasized the pursuit of dreams through enjoyment and determination. Kiryu's message left a lasting impact on the students, reminding them that challenges are part of the journey towards achieving their aspirations.