"I am very glad to accept the beautiful award. I was surprised and had never expected it. I have even asked the committee before to review its decision. Anyway, I am glad accepting it," she said at the award presentation at the Asian Games 2018 Media Center at Jakarta Convention Center here on Sunday.
Ikee won gold medals from the 50 meter women`s freestyle, 50 meter women`s backstroke, 50 meter women`s butterfly, 100 meter women`s butterfly, 4x100 meter women`s freestyle and 4x400 relay events.
In the 50 meter women`s freestyle event Ikee clocked 24.53 seconds to break the Incheon 2014 Asian Games record of 24.87 seconds held by Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi.
In the 100 meter butterfly event she also made a new record clocking 56 30 seconds breaking the previous record of 56.61 seconds held by Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi.
"Actually I have already returned to Japan after participating in Asian Games swimming events with a good experience of winning six gold medals in Indonesia. I am glad I could return here and will enjoy the performances tonight," she said.
The 18-year old athlete became the first women`s athlete receiving the MPV or the best athlete of Asian Games title.
Ikee said she would now prepare herself for the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020. "I wish to make the best performance," she said.
Reporting by Imam Santoso
Editing Yoseph Hariyadi, Suharto
Pewarta: Antara
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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