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A dejected Okamoto crumbled into a heap at the bottom of the
bowl, putting her helmeted head into her small hands.
But instead of the usual scene where a coach or parent comforts
the athlete, Okamoto was instantly surrounded by her rivals from
Japan, Australia and Brazil.
The girls patted her back and lifted Okamoto up on their
shoulders, a gesture so spontaneous and kind it immediately
resonated with viewers on social media.
"All the athletes are gold-medal angels," one user wrote in
Japanese on Twitter, while another person who went by
@Memikaru1203 on the platform said: "I could tell they really
respected each other. I'm so impressed and hope I can learn from
that."
"You're all winners," another users replied.
Unexpected camaraderie between competitors is not necessarily
rare at the Olympics, but is particularly notable during the
Tokyo 2020 Games where athletes have talked openly about their
mental health struggles.
Simone Biles, one of the most decorated gymnast of all time,
pulled out of several events citing the need to protect her
mental health, while Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka opened up
a wider conversation about the topic by prioritising her
wellbeing ahead of participating in competitions.
Earlier, Okamoto admitted she had been extra nervous going into
her very first Olympics. Asked about her results later by
Japanese media, Okamoto said she was "full of regret" that she
couldn't land the flip indie, her big trick of the finals.
Nudged again by reporters about the support of her rivals, her
eyes filled with tears.
"I'm grateful," she said simply.
(Reporting by Mari Saito; Editing by Michael Perry)
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