1. Early Life and Background
Sena Irie's journey into the world of boxing began at a young age, influenced by popular culture and her innate curiosity, laying the groundwork for her future athletic success.
1.1. Birth and Childhood
Sena Irie was born on October 9, 2000, in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Her given name, Sena, is reportedly derived from the famous Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. Irie began boxing at the age of seven, joining the Sugar Knuckle Boxing Gym in Yonago, the only boxing gym in her hometown at the time. Her initial inspiration to pursue boxing came from reading the sports manga Ganbare Genki by Yu Koyama, which features a character aspiring to become a boxer. She was trained by Takeshi Ida, the gym's chairman.
1.2. Education and Early Boxing Career
Irie attended Yonago City Gikata Elementary School and then Yonago City Gotogaoka Junior High School. During her junior high years, she was a member of the track and field club, specializing in the 800 metres and competing in the national junior high school ekiden competition in her first year. Concurrently, she continued her boxing training. In the national Under-Junior (UJ) tournament, she achieved a TKO victory over Hinami Yanai, who was two years her senior and later became the Japanese women's bantamweight champion.
Upon entering Tottori Prefectural Yonago Nishi High School, Irie dedicated herself solely to boxing. She became a prominent junior boxer, winning the All-Japan Women's Junior Championships in both her second and third years of high school, after being defeated by Tsukimi Namiki in her first year. Her talent also extended to international competitions, where she earned bronze medals at the AIBA Youth World Championships in both 2017 and 2018.
2. Amateur Boxing Career
Irie's amateur career saw her rise through the ranks, consistently performing at high levels in both domestic and international competitions, setting the stage for her Olympic dream.
2.1. Junior and High School Career
As detailed above, Irie's junior high school boxing career included a notable TKO win against Hinami Yanai in the national UJ tournament. Her high school career saw her achieve consecutive victories at the All-Japan Women's Junior Championships in her second and third years. She also secured bronze medals at the AIBA Youth World Championships in 2017 and 2018, demonstrating her early international competitive prowess.
2.2. University and Pre-Olympic Competitions
In 2019, Sena Irie enrolled at Nippon Sport Science University. That same year, she was selected to represent Japan at the 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She advanced to the quarterfinals but was ultimately defeated by Nesthy Petecio, finishing in the top eight.
On December 8, 2019, Irie secured her spot on the Japanese national team for the Olympic Asia-Oceania qualifiers by defeating Mizuki Hiruta, who later became the WBO women's world super-flyweight champion, in a box-off.
In the March 2020 Olympic qualifiers, Irie achieved a significant 4-1 decision victory over her rival, Nesthy Petecio, in the quarterfinals. This win qualified her for the Tokyo Olympics, making her the first Japanese female boxer to secure an Olympic berth since women's boxing was introduced at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She advanced to the final of the qualification tournament but was defeated by Lin Yu-ting, the 2018 World Champion, and finished as the runner-up.
3. 2020 Tokyo Olympics
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marked the pinnacle of Irie's boxing career, where she achieved historic success for Japan.
3.1. Qualification and Preparations
Sena Irie qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the women's featherweight division after her performance at the Asia-Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in March 2020. Her preparations for the Olympics involved rigorous training and strategic planning, building on her extensive experience in amateur competitions. She focused on refining her techniques and physical conditioning to compete at the highest level.
3.2. Olympic Performance
Representing Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Sena Irie competed in the women's featherweight boxing event. Her Olympic journey began on July 24, 2021, when she defeated Yamileth Solorzano of El Salvador by decision, marking the first Olympic victory for a Japanese female boxer.
In the quarterfinals, Irie faced Maria Nechita of Romania, securing a close 3-2 decision victory. This win guaranteed her at least a bronze medal, making her the first Japanese female boxer in history to secure an Olympic medal. She then advanced to the semifinals, where she defeated Karriss Artingstall of Great Britain with another 3-2 decision.
The final match took place on August 3, 2021, where Irie again met Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines. In a dominant performance, Irie defeated Petecio with a unanimous 5-0 decision, earning her the gold medal.
3.3. Gold Medal and Historical Significance
Sena Irie's gold medal victory at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a moment of profound historical significance. She became the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing, breaking new ground for the sport in Japan. Furthermore, she was the first athlete from Tottori Prefecture to win an Olympic gold medal across all sports. Her achievement was widely celebrated, symbolizing a breakthrough for women's sports and inspiring a new generation of athletes.
4. Post-Olympic Career and Retirement
Following her Olympic triumph, Sena Irie continued to compete briefly before making the decision to retire from the sport to pursue academic interests.
4.1. Continued Competitions
After winning the Olympic gold, Irie continued to participate in several competitions. In November 2021, she competed in the All-Japan Championships in the featherweight division, securing her second title after a three-year hiatus (two tournaments). Her victory was a dominant one, ending one match in just 75 seconds.
In January 2022, Irie won a gold medal at the Asian U22 Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in the women's featherweight category. She was also recognized as the tournament's Best Female Athlete. In July 2022, while serving as captain of the Nippon Sport Science University boxing team, she competed in the Kanto University Women's Tournament, fighting two weight classes above her usual featherweight at approximately 134 lb (61 kg). Despite the weight difference, she led her team to an overall victory.
In November 2022, Irie participated in the Asian Amateur Boxing Championships held in Jordan. She avenged her previous loss to Lin Yu-ting but was defeated by Karina Ibragimova of Kazakhstan in the final, earning a silver medal. Her university classmate and fellow Tottori native, Suzuka Kinoshita, won the gold medal in the women's flyweight division at the same event, becoming the first Japanese woman to do so.
Irie's final active competition was the All-Japan Championships on November 27, 2022. She defeated Satsuki Yoshizawa by decision in the final, securing her second consecutive national title and concluding her competitive career on a high note.
4.2. Decision and Plans for Retirement
Sena Irie publicly announced her decision to retire from competitive boxing after graduating from Nippon Sport Science University in spring 2023. She clarified that her retirement was not immediate but would occur upon the completion of her academic studies. Her primary motivation for retirement was to pursue her long-standing interest in animal science, specifically focusing on the study of frogs. In September 2022, she announced her acceptance into the graduate school of agricultural studies at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, where she plans to pursue research on frogs. This academic path superseded earlier mentions of working for a video game company.
5. Personal Life and Interests
Beyond her boxing achievements, Sena Irie is known for her unique personal interests and strong academic pursuits, reflecting a multi-faceted individual.
5.1. Interests and Hobbies
Sena Irie is a passionate admirer of frogs. She collects various frog-related items, keeps frogs as pets, and often spends her holidays observing frogs in their natural habitats. Her family's pet frog, a South American horned frog (Ceratophrys), is affectionately named "Jaiko." Following her Olympic gold medal win, when she received the Tottori Prefectural Citizen's Honor Award and the Tottori Prefectural Sports Highest Crown Award, she was also presented with a medal designed with a frog, crafted from the sand of the Tottori Sand Dunes, acknowledging her unique passion.
Beyond her love for frogs, Irie describes herself as an indoor person, with hobbies including watching YouTube videos and playing video games. She even brought her Nintendo Switch console to the Olympic Village in Tokyo. When traveling for international competitions, she always brings cup noodles with her, particularly favoring Nissin Yakisoba UFO and Ippei-chan. She also holds a unique ambition to perform a bungee jump from the highest point in Japan someday.
5.2. Academic Pursuits and Future Plans
During her time at Nippon Sport Science University, Sena Irie was enrolled in a psychology seminar, where she engaged in research on the "boundaries of infidelity." Her academic interests are deeply rooted in scientific inquiry, which she plans to continue after her boxing career.
As announced, Irie retired from active boxing after her university graduation in spring 2023. She has transitioned into an academic career, having been accepted into the graduate school of agricultural studies at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in September 2022. Her future plans are centered on her passion for animals, particularly the study of frogs, which she intends to pursue as a researcher. This academic path highlights her dedication to her personal interests beyond the athletic arena.
Sena Irie also shares childhood connections with several notable figures. She has been a childhood friend of Mahiru, a member of the Japanese comedy duo Ganbareru-ya, as their mothers were close friends since childhood. Additionally, her elementary and junior high school classmate is Sayaka Mikami, a competitive diving athlete. In the boxing community, her senior at Nippon Sport Science University is Sayo Segawa, who is now a professional minimumweight boxer. Mr. Shachihoko, a Japanese impressionist, is also a senior from the Nippon Sport Science University boxing club.
6. Awards and Honors
Sena Irie has received numerous awards and honors throughout her distinguished amateur boxing career, recognizing her athletic achievements and contributions to Japanese sports.
- Professional and Amateur Annual Boxing Awards:
- 2021 Amateur Boxing Division: Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award
- 2022 Amateur Boxing Division: Outstanding Player Award
- Tottori Prefectural Citizen's Honor Award (2021)
- Tottori Prefectural Sports Highest Crown Award (2021)
- Yonago City Citizen's Glory Award (2021)
- Order of the Rising Sun with Purple Ribbon (2021): This is a national honor awarded by the Japanese government to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in academic, artistic, or sports fields.
On March 29, 2022, a commemorative gold post (the 79th of its kind) was installed in front of the Yonago City Hall in Tottori Prefecture, as part of the Gold Post Project, to celebrate Irie's achievement of winning a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
7. Legacy and Public Recognition
Sena Irie's gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics left a significant and lasting impact on the Japanese boxing scene and garnered widespread public recognition. Her achievement as the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic boxing gold broke barriers and inspired a new generation of female athletes in a sport traditionally dominated by men.
Her unique personality, particularly her passion for frogs, also contributed to her public appeal, making her a beloved figure beyond the realm of sports. The installation of a gold post in her hometown of Yonago stands as a permanent symbol of her historic success and the pride she brought to her prefecture and the nation. Irie's decision to retire from boxing to pursue academic research in animal science has also been met with admiration, showcasing her dedication to personal interests and setting an example of life beyond competitive sport.