大坂なおみ、ミシェル氏・フェルプス氏の支援に感謝　五輪に意気込み

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】東京五輪での競技復帰の準備を進める女子テニスの大坂なおみは８日、米誌タイムへの寄稿で、全仏オープンをメンタルヘルス上の理由で棄権した後、米国の元大統領夫人ミシェル・オバマ氏や元水泳選手マイケル・フェルプス氏から受けた支援に対し、感謝の意を表明した。（写真は全仏オープンテニス、女子シングルス１回戦に臨んだ大坂なおみ）
　大坂は全仏オープンで、選手に義務付けられている記者会見を拒否して１万５０００ドル（約１７０万円）の罰金を科された後、棄権を表明し、論争を引き起こした。五輪で２３個の金メダルを獲得し、自身もメンタルヘルスの問題で苦しんできたことを公表しているフェルプス氏は大坂に対し、問題を打ち明けたことで誰かの命が救われたかもしれないと伝えたという。大坂は「それが事実ならば、やる価値はあった」とつづっている。
　大坂は全仏オープンで、試合後の記者会見は精神衛生を害するとの見解を表明していたが、タイム誌への寄稿でも、この慣行は「時代遅れで、刷新が大いに必要」だと主張。「人々が共感し、大丈夫ではなくても大丈夫なのだということ、それについて話しても大丈夫なのだということを理解してくれることを願う」と表明した。
　また、約１か月にわたり休息した今、「東京でプレーすることをこれ以上ないほど楽しみにしている」と宣言。「五輪はそれ自体が特別なもの」であり、「（日本のファンの）誇りになれればいいなと思う」とつづった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/09-14:47）

Tennis star Naomi Osaka, preparing to return to competition at the Tokyo Olympics, says former US first lady Michelle Obama and Michael Phelps were among those who offered support after she withdrew from the French Open citing mental health reasons.
In an essay for Time magazine's Olympic preview issue, the four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan said Phelps, the 23-time Olympic swimming gold medallist who has opened up about his own mental health struggles, had told her that by speaking up she may have saved a life.
If that's true, then it was all worth it, Osaka said of the controversy that arose when she withdrew from the French Open, where she was fined $15,000 for failing to meet mandatory media requirements.
Osaka had said that she believed post-match news conferences were detrimental to her mental health, and in her Time essay she said she still believed the format was out of date and in great need of a refresh.
I believe that we can make it better, more interesting and more enjoyable for each side, she wrote. Less subject vs. object; more peer to peer.
But the former world number one, who also skipped Wimbledon, wrote that she hopes sport authorities will enact measures to protect athletes, especially the fragile ones, perhaps allowing players to sometimes forego media obligations without punishment.
There can be moments for any of us where we are dealing with issues behind the scenes, Osaka said. Each of us as humans is going through something on some level.
I do hope that people can relate and understand it?s O.K. to not be O.K., and it?s O.K. to talk about it, Osaka added. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel.
Osaka said that after taking several weeks to recharge and spend time with my loved ones she could not be more excited to play in Tokyo.
An Olympic Games itself is special...I hope I can make them (her home fans) proud.