Courtesy of SK-II Studio.

One of the greatest Olympic stories of all time was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Maarten van der Weijden won the Olympic 10K Marathon Swim over world champions and medal favorites. The leukemia survivor experienced the most dramatic of all comebacks – from losing half his body weight in the throes of his illness to standing on top of the Olympic platform in Beijing.

Rikako Ikee was diagnosed with leukemia in early 2019 and similarly dealt with the ravages of cancer. But, similar to the Dutch Olympic champion in 2008, she is making her comeback and is poised to race in Tokyo at the upcoming Olympics. This is her story by SK-II Studio:

SK-II is a Japanese skincare company and cosmetics brand that was launched in the early 1980s based on a compound derived from yeast. Owned now by Procter & Gamble, SK-II Studio is a the brand’s first film studio division and content hub is dedicated to tackling social pressures impacting women today. SK-II Studio is producing a number of inspirational stories of women from around the world.

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Steven Munatones

Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference.  He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984).  Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.

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