Athens Olympic hammer throw gold-medalist Koji Murofushi visited a junior high school in disaster-affected Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 31 to cheer up victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and to thank them for providing inspiration.
Athens Olympic hammer throw gold-medalist Koji Murofushi visited a junior high school in disaster-affected Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 31 to cheer up victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake and to thank them for providing inspiration.
His visit came two months after the 37-year-old athlete won the gold medal at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. Before competing in Daegu, Murofushi also visited the Ishinomaki school back in June.
"I was given the courage to fight hard from all of you," Murofushi told about 350 students at Kadonowaki Junior High School. "That (World Championship) gold was the greatest medal I have ever won in my athletic career."
After his first visit, students at the school presented Murofushi with a Japanese flag on which they had written encouraging phrases, as well as an uplifting message: "We will never give up."
Murofushi put the flag up in his room at the athlete's village during the IAAF competition in Daegu. When he was awarded the gold medal, he raised the flag high as he ran around the track.
"This flag is so precious to me," said Murofushi, holding the flag as he addressed the students. "I will keep it for the rest of my life."
Murofushi then returned the favor, offering some words to inspire the children.
"If you all work together, you can revive Ishinomaki," he said. "I am positive you can do that."