Olympic Sprinter Yamagata Turns Down Corporate League Offers to Train in U.S. With Seiko Sponsorship
http://www.hochi.co.jp/sports/etc/20140723-OHT1T50329.html translated by Brett Larner On July 23 it was announced that London Olympics sprinter Ryota Yamagata (22, Keio Univ.) will join Seiko Holdings Corporation and be based in California, U.S.A. Yamagata's decision was a big one, made in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Turning down offers from many top corporate league teams, he entered into a sponsorship agreement with Seiko Holdings, manufacturers of watches and other precision mechanical equipment. Seiko does not currently have a track and field team, but Yamagata intends to move to California by himself following his graduation next spring and as part of his agreement with Seiko, at his own request he will be responsible for choosing his coach, trainer, training location and environment himself. "Maybe I could have gotten the best support somewhere else, but I want to open up new ways of doing things," he commented. Having developed his trai...