JapaneseDiverOlympianMedalist

Rikuto Tamai

Rikuto Tamai is a Japanese diver and the first to win an Olympic medal, securing silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside success at World Aquatics Championships.

1. Early life and background

Rikuto Tamai's foundational years in Hyōgo Prefecture laid the groundwork for his distinguished career in diving.

1.1. Birth and early years

Rikuto Tamai was born on September 11, 2006, in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. He is the second of two brothers. His given name, Rikuto, was chosen with the hope that he would possess a broad mind, much like a continent. Tamai began learning to swim at the age of three, which led to his introduction to diving.

1.2. Diving initiation and early training

Tamai's journey into competitive diving began when he participated in a diving class during his first year of elementary school. Early in his career, he trained under the guidance of coach Takahide Mabuchi, who is renowned for having coached many Olympic athletes. Under Mabuchi's tutelage, Tamai honed his skills and rapidly progressed in the sport. His club was JSS Takarazuka.

2. Career

Rikuto Tamai's career has seen a remarkable progression from a promising junior athlete to an Olympic medalist, marking numerous firsts for Japanese diving.

2.1. Junior and early senior achievements

Tamai's talent became evident early in his career as he broke several national age records. In April 2019, at the age of 12 years and 7 months, he became the youngest ever national indoor diving champion in Japan. Later that year, in September, he further solidified his status by becoming the youngest ever national diving champion. At the 95th Japanese National Championships, he scored 498.50 points in the 10m platform event, a score comparable to the fourth-place performance at the World Aquatics Championships.

Despite being unable to participate in the 2019 World Aquatics Championships due to age restrictions, his domestic performances showcased his international potential. In the 2019 Diving Grand Prix, he placed fourth in the 10m platform in Madrid, and secured silver medals in the 10m platform at both the Kuala Lumpur and Singapore legs, scoring 456.20 and 452.75 points respectively. In September 2020, at the 96th Japanese National Championships, he won both the 10m platform and 3m springboard events. His 10m platform score of 528.80 points was equivalent to a third-place finish at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

2.2. Major international competitions

Tamai has consistently performed at the highest level in major global diving events, earning historic medals for Japan.

2.2.1. Olympic Games

Tamai competed in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics as one of the youngest Japanese athletes. He qualified for the Games by placing ninth in the semifinals and eighth in the finals of the World Cup, which served as a test event and final qualifier. In the men's 10m platform event at the Tokyo Olympics, he advanced to the final with a score of 413.65 points, placing eighth in the semifinals. He ultimately finished seventh in the final with a score of 431.95 points, marking the first time in 21 years that a Japanese diver reached the Olympic final since Ken Terauchi at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Rikuto Tamai at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympians and Paralympians Japan National Team parade event on November 30, 2024
Rikuto Tamai at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympians and Paralympians Japan National Team parade event on November 30, 2024


At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Tamai achieved a historic milestone for Japan. He won the silver medal in the men's 10m platform event with a score of 507.65 points. This achievement marked Japan's first-ever Olympic medal in diving, a significant moment for the sport in the country. In May 2024, he also won the Olympic test event, notably outperforming Cao Yuan, the gold medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

2.2.2. World Aquatics Championships

Tamai has also achieved success at the World Aquatics Championships. In July 2022, at the 19th World Aquatics Championships in Budapest, he secured a silver medal in the men's 10m platform final with a score of 488.30 points. This was Japan's first medal in this specific event at the World Championships. At the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, he competed in the 1m springboard, finishing 31st with 298.60 points, and the 10m platform, where he finished 12th with 401.50 points.

2.2.3. Other international competitions

Tamai has consistently competed in various other international events, showcasing his prowess. In May 2021, at the Diving World Cup in Tokyo, he finished eighth in the 10m platform. In April 2023, he earned a bronze medal in the men's 10m platform final at the first leg of the 2023 Diving World Cup in Xi'an, scoring 433.80 points. He followed this with a silver medal in the second leg in Montreal in May, achieving 513.45 points. Later, in October 2023, he claimed a bronze medal at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou in the men's 10m platform final, scoring 480.50 points.

In 2022, he enrolled in Suma Gakuen High School. After the Paris 2024 Olympics, Tamai continued his dominance domestically, winning the National High School Championships with an overwhelming score of 672.80 points, and also securing first place at the Japanese National Championships with 524.50 points, both victories achieved with significant leads over his competitors.

3. Personal life

Beyond his competitive diving career, some aspects of Rikuto Tamai's personal life are known.

3.1. Personal profile

Tamai's height is 63 in (160 cm) and his weight is 121 lb (55 kg), as recorded during the 2022 World Aquatics Championships. His role model in diving is his senior and fellow club member, Ken Terauchi. Prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, his personal goal was to win a medal. His favorite food is gyutan, or beef tongue.

4. Competitive record

The following table details Rikuto Tamai's results in major diving competitions.

YearCompetitionEventScoreResult
2019Japan Indoor Diving ChampionshipsTokyo10m Platform474.25Winner
95th Japan Swimming ChampionshipsKanazawa10m Platform498.50Winner
Diving Grand Prix 2019 - Leg 4Madrid3m Springboard200.6034th Place
10m Platform377.854th Place
Diving Grand Prix 2019 - Leg 8Kuala Lumpur10m Platform456.20Runner-up
Diving Grand Prix 2019 - Leg 9Singapore10m Platform452.75Runner-up
2020
96th Japan Swimming ChampionshipsNiigata3m Springboard439.35Winner
10m Platform528.80Winner
2021
Diving World CupTokyo10m Platform424.008th Place
97th Japan Swimming ChampionshipsUtsunomiya3m Springboard395.553rd Place
10m Platform516.85Winner
2020 Summer OlympicsTokyo10m Platform431.957th Place
2022
Tsubasa Japan Diving CupShizuoka3m Springboard413.704th Place
10m Platform516.85Winner
2022 World Aquatics ChampionshipsBudapest1m Springboard326.6011th Place
10m Platform488.00Runner-up
98th Japan Swimming ChampionshipsUtsunomiya3m Springboard413.553rd Place
10m Platform511.60Winner
2023
Tsubasa Japan Diving CupTokyo10m Platform480.10Winner
Diving World Cup 2023 - Leg 1Xi'an10m Platform433.803rd Place
Diving World Cup 2023 - Leg 2Montreal10m Platform513.45Runner-up
2023 World Aquatics ChampionshipsFukuoka1m Springboard298.6031st Place
10m Platform401.5012th Place
2022 Asian GamesHangzhou10m Platform480.503rd Place

5. Legacy and impact

Rikuto Tamai's achievements have left a significant mark on the sport of diving, especially within Japan.

5.1. Impact on Japanese diving

Tamai's silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics holds immense significance as it represents Japan's first-ever Olympic medal in diving history. This groundbreaking achievement is expected to inspire a new generation of Japanese divers and elevate the profile of the sport across the nation. His consistent performance at major international events, coupled with his numerous national records set at a young age, positions him as a trailblazer who has brought international recognition and success to Japanese diving.