ピッタ・タウファトフアさんのインスタグラム写真 - (ピッタ・タウファトフアInstagram)「On this day four years ago I walked onto the mats for my first Olympic competition. Two weeks earlier things had changed up on me. The Olympic opening ceremony and the constant barrage of media obligations was something I was not prepared to deal with. Another new hurdle to overcome. My coach and I worked hard those two weeks to shut it out and focus. I walked onto the mats feeling something. It wasn’t fear or nerves- possibly excitement and reflection. I’m still not sure. I knew that the world was watching- wanting the storybook win. I tried to shut out all the expectations and focus on our plan. I was standing in front of a world champion and great athlete who wanted only to finish me as quickly as possible. Within the first few moments he caught me sleeping (a term we use in Taekwondo for a momentary lapse in focus )with a well timed double kick to my head - a split second that can change the outcome of a match. I looked up and the score was 6:0. I made a critical mistake and rushed in to get those points back- next thing I know it was 9:0. What was happening? In front of the world the story book result was being taken away. I walked off the mat after the first round and my coach said he was yelling at me the whole round ‘ cover, cover’. I didn’t hear a single word he said during that round. I was there but not there. It was strange. In the second round, I woke up and said stuff this I’m not leaving here without a fight and I threw all I had. Some high scoring kicks missed by inches. But in Taekwondo inches might as well be miles. My flexibility had let me down. I couldn’t get my legs up to his 6ft6 face. He was the better fighter on the day and took the win. After the match I felt frustrated at myself for conceding so many points in that first round. That pain was short lived- I rarely self loathe for more than a few moments; but secondly the crowd was up on their feet chanting TONGA TONGA TONGA. I felt proud just to be there. Life doesn’t always give us story book outcomes but I’ll happily take the friendships formed, the adventures had, the beat downs- the rises and falls with nothing but a smile and gratitude for it all! #tokyo2020ne #redemption」8月26日 7時19分