Gymnast Sugihara: quitting at 22, champion at 27

Aiko Sugihara emerged as an unexpected winner on the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games gymnastics floor after injuries and temporarily stepping away from competition had disrupted the 27-year-old's career.

Sugihara edged China's favorite Ke Qinqin to become the first Japanese woman to win the Asian Games women's all-around title and also took a floor exercise gold medal.

Standing on the Nagoya podium between two 16-year-olds, Sugihara answered everyone who thought her time had passed.

"I like to think I've been able to prove that you can have success in gymnastics in your late 20s," she said, competing through years of scoliosis and recurring ligament injuries. "My message is, don't compare yourself to others and take it one step at a time in your own way. By doing that over and over, it is possible to build it back up, so don't give up."

Sugihara began gymnastics at the age of four and developed a reputation for her twisting skills, earning the nickname "Twist Princess." She won the Asian all-around and team titles at 16 and had a balance beam skill named after her.

She missed her home Olympics due to left knee surgery and stepped away from competition a year later. Although she managed to return in 2023 in a bid to compete at the Olympics, she traveled to Paris only as an alternate.