Japanese cyclist Yumi Kajihara dedicated her latest Asian Games gold medal to her younger brother, who passed away from cancer earlier this year. Kajihara secured her third consecutive omnium gold at the Izu Velodrome on October 2, an achievement marked by an emotional tribute to her late brother, Hyogo.

During a post-race interview, Kajihara, 29, recalled how her brother’s resilience and positive spirit helped her navigate a difficult period in her career. After failing to medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, she described feeling deeply discouraged. “I hit rock bottom,” she said. Kajihara, who made history as the first Japanese woman cyclist to win an Olympic medal by earning silver in the omnium at the Tokyo Games, said her brother’s encouragement was a turning point. Despite battling cancer alone in a Tokyo hospital, Hyogo remained upbeat, telling her, “Why do you look so down? Even though I have cancer, I’m this happy.”

Kajihara recounted her brother’s words, “Just being alive means you’ve already come out ahead,” as a reminder to appreciate life and the support around her. She credited this outlook with helping her find renewed motivation to compete.

The gold in Izu marked Kajihara’s fourth overall Asian Games gold, adding to her previous success in the team pursuit event at Hangzhou three years ago. She also took home a silver medal in the team pursuit competition on September 29.

During past competitions at the Izu Velodrome, Kajihara said her brother was a constant presence, often attending to support her. Reflecting on her recent race, she shared that she felt his spirit nearby. “So today I kept thinking: Maybe he’s here at the venue? I’m sure he’s here, and I thought about him over and over as I raced,” she said. Kajihara described sensing her brother’s encouragement, as if he were telling her to enjoy the moment and reassuring her that she would be all right.