After taking silver in the men's wheelchair T52 400 and 1,500 meters at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics, Japan's Tomoki Sato decided to make whatever changes he could to reach the top of the podium.
With a trimmed-down physique and lighter wheelchair, the 31-year-old set a Paralympic 400 record of 55.39 seconds Friday to win Japan's first athletics gold medal of the Tokyo Games.
Believing even the tiniest weight reduction could make a crucial difference, Sato installed a new, ultralight magnesium alloy leg rest on his wheelchair, while replacing iron wheel fastenings with lighter titanium.
His leaner 70-kilogram body, down 8 kg from Rio, was achieved largely thanks to the efforts of his wife Mayuko, who prepared his meals after spending time studying nutrition.
Sato nevertheless came into the race roughly 20 kg heavier than the reigning Paralympic 400 and 1,500 champion, U.S. racer Raymond Martin, who got off to a much faster start.
But after a furious final stretch, Sato got his nose in front to finish just 0.20 second ahead of Martin, who he will battle again in the 1,500 on Sunday.
"At the beginning I was on the outside, so I gave all the energy I had. (Martin) was on the inner line. I wanted to leave him behind, but unfortunately couldn't overtake him as planned," said Sato, adding he was "thankful" to Martin for putting on a great race.
The 2019 world champion over both 400 and 1,500, Sato took up wheelchair racing after watching the 2012 London Paralympics. Having initially been diagnosed in 2010 with myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord, the condition worsened in 2012.
At Tokyo's National Stadium on Friday, he was overcome with emotion after receiving his coveted gold medal.
"I'm honestly lost for words. It means so much," he said.
Mayuko, who watched the race remotely, with her face on a screen inside the stadium alongside around 100 fans, suggested Sato's dietary regime was set to be eased.
"I was so thrilled watching (the race)," she said. "When he gets home, I want to cook him whatever he wants to eat."
Related coverage:
Paralympics: Sato pushes to gold as athletics provides bulk of medals
Paralympics: Wheelchair racer Sato wins Japan's 1st athletics gold
Japan's Paralympians to continue medal momentum in Tokyo's other games
