Goto
Taiga 後藤 大雅

2020.10.23

With a strong will, he overcomes injuries and produces results

Taiga Goto said, “Under every circumstance, I have thought about what I lack and how I can produce results.” Though sports events have been cancelled one after another due to the impact of COVID-19, he continues training with a great sense of purpose. Goto does all he can for upcoming competitions, sticking to his own stance. “It has not changed, and it will never change.”

Overcoming physical pain and building up mental strength

Goto started weightlifting soon after entering high school in 2014. The more he worked out, the more his figure changed. The results shown in numerical values fascinated him. In his third year, he took second place in the National Interscholastic Athletic Meet and third place in the National Athletic Meet. These results, however, did not satisfy him. Once the competition is finished, it becomes a thing of the past. “To go forward, I just need to practice hard, telling myself that I can do more,” said Goto. “If I thought I did good enough, I would quit the sport.”

After entering Chuo University, Goto was surprised at the high level and amount of training carried out there. “I was overwhelmed at the sight of players with higher-level skills practicing from morning until evening, pushing themselves to their limit.” From that day on, he kept practicing without taking a single day off. However, the wrist pain that had tormented him since high school was too much for him to bear. The pain traveled even to his fingertips, sometimes making it hard for him to hold chopsticks.

“Still, I didn’t take a break from training. When I can’t hold a barbell, I strengthen the lower half of my body,” said Goto. “When the pain has subsided, I get back to normal training. If I hurt myself again, I build up the lower half of my body.” The confidence he has knowing he can overcome physical pain has built up his mental strength.

Aiming to be the best in Japan with a strong will

Weightlifting is composed of two main lifts: the snatch and the clean & jerk. Each weightlifter is allowed three attempts in each, with the heaviest successful attempt from each of the snatch and the clean & jerk determining the lifter’s ranking. Goto’s strength lies in his “good rhythm and tempo,” which are derived from strong willpower and mental strength. At the top level, the ability to keep calm and maintain the same rhythm in each attempt, despite all advanced tactics used by and against opponents, determines the results.

In 2019, Goto achieved good results at national-level events, starting from the All-Japan Junior Championship, where he took second place. In the same year, he made his debut in the international event--the Cup of the Blue Swords--as a member of the national team, and placed fourth. In 2020, Goto was aiming to become the best in Japan to mark the culmination of four years of training at the university, but sports competitions have been cancelled one after another. Nevertheless, he keeps his motivation up and spends his days thinking of becoming the best lifter in Japan. “To be the best in Japan requires a strong body and will that can never be broken. I want to be a player who will never give in to whatever difficulties may come up.”

Taiga Goto’s philosophy

Have a will that can never be broken.