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Reiko Tosa Strongly Motivated by $100,000 Gold Medal Bonus

http://www.daily.co.jp/general/2008/06/10/0001123830.shtml

translated by Brett Larner

Beijing Olympics women`s marathon team member Reiko Tosa (31) appeared along with 70 kg. class judo wrestler Masae Ueno (29) and 52 kg. class judo wrestler Misato Nakamura (19) at a general meeting at the Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo Group`s offices on June 9. Model Maki Horikita (19) MC`d the event.

Having just returned from training in Boulder, Colorado, Tosa is scheduled to leave for Kunming, China on June 12. Asked for her views on the mysterious virus which track star Megumi Kinukawa (Team Mizuno) is alleged to have contracted while training in Kunming, Tosa said flatly, "I`m not worried at all." Looking ahead to the Olympics, she continued, "The conditions are going to be hot and cruel, but I`ve done a good job of modifying my training. I`ll be running relaxed and unconcerned." Also sure to be in Tosa`s mind as she prepares for the main event is Rikuren`s $100,000 gold medal bonus. "That`s definitely a factor, isn`t it," she admitted dryly.

With Ueno planning an Olympic defense and Japanese judo looking for its first gold medal win by a teenager, Nakamura promised to compete with, "total discipline and seriousness."

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