Hikaru Mori (森ひかる, Mori Hikaru, born 7 July 1999) is a Japanese individual and synchronised trampoline gymnast. She is a six-time World champion and was the first Japanese female trampoline gymnast to win an individual title at the World Championships. She represented Japan at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics. She won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games.

Early life

Mori was born on 7 July 1999 in Tokyo. She was introduced to trampolining at the age of four at a rooftop play area of a local supermarket. She then joined a trampoline club alongside her older twin brothers.[1] She moved with her mother to Kanazawa in grade 10 to improve her training.[2]

Career

2015-2017

Mori won two gold medals at the 2015 World Age Group Competition in Odense, Denmark, in the 15-16 year old age group. She won the individual event by 0.070 points ahead of Isabelle Songhurst,[3] and she won the synchronized trampoline title with her partner Yumi Takagi.[4] She began competing in senior international competitions in 2016.[5] At the 2016 Brescia World Cup, she won a silver medal in the synchro event alongside Rana Nakano.[6] Then at the 2016 Arosa World Cup, Mori and Nakano won the bronze medal.[5]

Mori finished fifth in both the individual and synchro events at the 2017 Minsk World Cup.[7] She then competed at the 2017 World Championships held in Sofia and won a silver medal in the synchro event with Yumi Takagi.[8] Additionally, she helped Japan finished fourth in the team competition and was the first reserve for the individual final.[9][10]

2018-2019

Mori and Yumi Takagi won a bronze medal at the 2018 Brescia World Cup.[11] Mori then finished fourth in the individual event at the Maebashi World Cup,[12] and she placed fifth at the Loule World Cup.[13] She won the silver medal in the individual event at the 2018 Asian Games behind China's Liu Lingling.[14][15] Later that year, she won a gold medal at the World Championships in synchronized trampoline alongside Megu Uyama. They were the first female Japanese trampoline gymnasts to win a World title. Mori and Uyama had only been training together for a month before winning the title, because Takagi was injured.[16][17] Mori also competed in the individual event and finished fifth.[18]

Mori finished fourth in the individual event at the 2019 Minsk World Cup,[19] and she then won a silver medal behind Yana Pavlova at the Khabarovsk World Cup.[20] Then at the Valladolid World Cup, she won the bronze medal behind Chinese gymnasts Liu Lingling and Zhu Xueying.[21] At the 2019 World Championships, Mori helped the Japanese women's team win the gold medal for the first time ever.[22] She then also won the gold medal in the individual event and qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[23][24] This marked the first time a Japanese female gymnast won the World title in individual trampolining.[25]

2021-2022

Mori won her first World Cup title at the 2021 Brescia World Cup.[26] She competed at the postponed-2020 Summer Olympics in her hometown, but mistakes in the qualification round led to a 13th place finish that kept her out of the final.[2] She admitted that she struggled with the pressure of being the gold-medal favorite.[1] She contemplated retirement after this performance but competed at the 2021 World Championships in Baku and helped Japan successfully defend its team title.[27] She also won a silver medal in the synchro event alongside Narumi Tamura.[28]

Mori competed at the 2022 Rimini World Cup and finished ninth in the individual semifinals.[29] She then won the silver medal at the 2022 Arosa World Cup behind the defending World champion Bryony Page.[30] She then won the individual event at the 2022 World Championships ahead of Page, and she also won a gold medal in the synchro event with Uyama.[31][32] Additionally, she helped Japan win the bronze medal in the team event.[33]

2023-2024

Mori finished fourth at the 2023 Palm Beach World Cup, and she then won the bronze medal at the Varna World Cup.[34] She then competed at the 2023 World Championships but did not qualify for the individual final after finished 14th in the semifinals.[35] She also competed in the synchro event alongside Megu Uyama, and they finished fourth in the final.[36]

Mori finished fifth at the 2024 Baku World Cup,[37] eighth at the Cottbus World Cup,[38] and seventh at the Arosa World Cup.[39] She was selected to represent Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[40] She finished sixth in the individual final.[41]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hikaru Mori met by pressure in unique trampoline career". Kyodo News. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Athlete Inspiration: For Trampoline superstar Mori, perseverance led to a golden prize". International Gymnastics Federation. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  3. ^ "24th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition Odense Denmark, December 3 – 6, 2015 Individual trampoline — 15-16 Women — Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. p. 6. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  4. ^ "24th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Age Group Competition Odense Denmark, December 3 – 6, 2015 Synchronised trampoline — 15-16 Women — Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. p. 6. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Mori Hikaru - FIG Athlete Profile". International Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  6. ^ "Dong Dong and Li Dan still at the top in Brescia". International Gymnastics Federation. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  7. ^ "FIG Trampoline World Cup Minsk 2017 Results Book" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. pp. 19, 24. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  8. ^ Morgan, Liam (11 November 2017). "Jia equals individual tumbling record at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  9. ^ "32nd Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships 2017 Sofia (Bulgaria) Women's Trampoline Team Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  10. ^ "32nd Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships 2017 Sofia (Bulgaria) Women's Trampoline Semi-final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 12 November 2017. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  11. ^ "FIG TRA World Cup Brescia (ITA) - Synchro Women Brescia, 28 April 2018 - Finals" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  12. ^ "FIG TRA World Cup 4/5 august 2018, Maebashi, Japan Individual trampoline — Women — Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 5 August 2018. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  13. ^ "2018 Loule World Cup Individual Women Final Results" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  14. ^ "China's Liu wins women's trampoline gold at Asian Games". China Internet Information Center. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  15. ^ "China scoops Asiad golds in men's, women's trampoline". Shanghai Daily. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  16. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (9 November 2018). "Historic Japanese win amid successful title defences at FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  17. ^ "Hikaru Mori, Megu Uyama become first Japanese women to take gold at trampoline world championships". The Japan Times. 18 November 2018. Archived from the original on 10 November 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  18. ^ "33rd FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships 2018 St. Petersburg (Russia), 7-10 November 2018 Women's Trampoline Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 10 November 2018. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  19. ^ "FIG Trampoline World Cup Trampoline and Tumbling Gymnastics Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 21 April 2019. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  20. ^ "Champions return on big weekend for Pavlova and US pair in Khabarovsk". International Gymnastics Federation. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Hancharou and Liu back on top in Valladolid". International Gymnastics Federation. 8 October 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Shock and awe for Belarus and Japan on thrilling World Team Finals day". International Gymnastics Federation. 29 November 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  23. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (1 December 2019). "Gao wins record fourth title and Mori delights at Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships". Inside the Games. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  24. ^ "Gao and Mori make history as Trampoline Worlds finish with a flourish". International Gymnastics Federation. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  25. ^ "Groundbreaking titles distinguished big 2019 in Trampoline Gymnastics". International Gymnastics Federation. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  26. ^ "Mori and Morante land on top at Brescia Trampoline World Cup". International Gymnastics Federation. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  27. ^ "Five nations grab first titles at Trampoline Worlds". International Gymnastics Federation. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  28. ^ "Ups and downs on Day 3 of Trampoline Worlds in Baku". International Gymnastics Federation. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  29. ^ "FIG World Cup 4th AERE Trampoline - Women Trampoline Q2 Rimini (ITA), 27/28 May 2022" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  30. ^ "Japan shows technical expertise with two trampoline golds in Arosa". International Gymnastics Federation. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  31. ^ Gunston, Jo (19 November 2022). "Mori Hikaru wins double gold on final day of Trampoline World Championships". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  32. ^ "Mori stars with double gold on final day of Trampoline Worlds". International Gymnastics Federation. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  33. ^ "Portuguese, Chinese teams take World Trampoline gold on eventful night in Sofia". International Gymnastics Federation. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  34. ^ "A clean sweep for China in Varna". International Gymnastics Federation. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  35. ^ "37th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships Birmingham (GBR), 09-12 November 2023 Women's Trampoline Qualification Round 2" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 11 November 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  36. ^ "37th FIG Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships Birmingham (GBR), 09-12 November 2023 Women's Synchronised Trampoline Final" (PDF). USA Gymnastics. International Gymnastics Federation. 12 November 2023. p. 2. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  37. ^ "Baku brilliance: China shines at first Trampoline World Cup of 2024". International Gymnastics Federation. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  38. ^ "Chinese trampolinists score a hat-trick of golds — and two more Olympic berths — in Cottbus". International Gymnastics Federation. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  39. ^ "Trampoline's new generation makes an impact in Arosa". International Gymnastics Federation. 2 July 2024. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  40. ^ "森、西岡がパリ五輪代表 トランポリン選考会" [Mori and Nishioka qualify for the Paris Olympics in trampoline]. Japanese Olympic Committee (in Japanese). 12 May 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  41. ^ "Trampoline gold at last for Bryony Page". International Gymnastics Federation. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Mori
No tags for this post.