Nozomi OKUHARA

Badminton Player / Olympian

Born on March 13, 1995, in Omachi, Nagano, Japan.
Living is my hobby.

- Rio Olympic Games – Bronze Medal
The only Japanese Olympic medalist
in badminton singles
- BWF World Championships – Gold Medal
The first Japanese women’s singles player
- All England Open Champion (106th)
First Japanese winner in 39 years
World No.1 (Career-high ranking)
- All Japan National Championships
Youngest champion in history (16 years, 8 months)

Story

A straight and honest origin, shaped through the sport
Through days of chasing the shuttle more than anyone else,
I came to embody the words “never stop challenging”
through my own experience.
The journey was not always smooth.
Injuries, setbacks, impatience, a hunger to grow stronger—
Yet every time I held the racket,
the feeling of “challenge” rising within me
never once wavered.
That purity is my foundation and the driving force behind everything I do.

Finding hope through everyday choices

“When in doubt, choose the harder path.”
Holding onto that belief, I kept moving forward—
There were days filled with pain, conflict, and moments when nothing went as planned.
Even so, there is one reason I never stop challenging myself.
Because I believe that beyond every step forward, there is always hope.
To once again grasp the feeling of truly moving forward—beyond wins and losses.
That determination
is what pushes me ahead once more.

Becoming a source of hope

If I compete, I aim for the very top.
But it is not only about winning or losing. I want to give back to society
by sharing the value of the journey itself, beyond results.
Continuing to challenge myself as an athlete
is not only about my own future—
it can gently encourage someone else to take a step forward.
The courage to begin, the strength to face obstacles,
and the resilience to rise again and again.
From here, to bring new hope once more,
I will keep challenging myself.