[Olympia Sports Club] Member Swimmer Advances to Japan Championships, Full Support for "Balancing Competition and Work" for Active Athletes

Yuuya Sakamoto, Swimming Instructor and Member of Olympia Sports Club

Yuuya Sakamoto (26), a swimming instructor at "Olympia Sports Club," a comprehensive fitness club operated by Morikin Ceramics Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture; President: Akiko Mori), participated in the "102nd Japan Swimming Championships," the nation's highest-level competition, held from June 4th to 7th, 2026, at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

Although he narrowly missed advancing from the preliminary heats, Olympia Sports Club operates under the policy of "prioritizing and backing up challenges as an active athlete." They provide flexible work arrangements and support for travel. Sakamoto is already looking ahead to his next major event, the "National Sports Games" (formerly National Sports Festival), and is diligently training using the club's excellent facilities with the goal of competing and achieving a high ranking.

The Choice to Balance "Aspiring to the Top as an Active Athlete" with a "Coaching Career"

Sakamoto (front), balancing competition and work.

The "dual career" promoted by the Japan Sports Agency—a lifestyle that balances athletic competition and work—is gaining social attention. However, many athletes face challenges such as "securing competition funds and practice time" and "anxiety about their second career after retirement."

Sakamoto, too, has faced difficulties with limited training environments and challenges in building a future career while continuing his top-level activities.

It was then that he chose "Olympia Sports Club." By becoming a full-time swimming instructor, he can utilize the club's own 6-lane, 25-meter heated pool to challenge his limits as an athlete. The club's full understanding and support system were the deciding factors in his joining.

Olympia's 6-lane heated pool, which Sakamoto also uses for training.

Sakamoto shared his thoughts:

"I am very grateful that at Olympia Sports Club, I can coach children as a swimming coach while also being supported as a competitor with considerations for my practice time and working hours. Although the Japan Championships recently ended with a disappointing result in the preliminaries, I received a lot of warm encouragement from many members, children from the kids' school, and their parents, saying things like 'I saw you on YouTube!' and 'Good luck next time!' I feel very fortunate to have found a workplace where my efforts can inspire others and where my commitment to my challenges is supported. I have already resumed training for the National Sports Games in September and am practicing daily to surpass my past self. I want to share the environment at Olympia with those who want to swim, those who don't want to give up on competition, and those who want to turn their passions into their careers!"

Sakamoto, competing in the National Sports Games as a representative of Mie Prefecture.

Yuuya Sakamoto

Date of Birth: October 3, 1999

Birthplace: Taiki Town, Mie Prefecture

Education: Graduated from Toyo University (March 2022)

Event: Butterfly

Competitive History: Started swimming in the 2nd grade of elementary school, won a national sectional competition in the 1st year of junior high. Won two titles at the All Japan Junior High School Championships in his 3rd year of junior high, placed 3rd at the Inter-High School Championships in his 2nd year of high school. In his 3rd year of high school, he placed 2nd at the World Junior Championships and won the National Sports Festival. He was selected for the Junior Japan National Team and the Senior Japan National Team, and won the National Sports Festival again in 2023. He also has experience winning other national competitions, including the Japan Short Course Championships.

Workplace Support System: The entire company rallies to support challenges, from daily practice to travel

Olympia Sports Club has established the following athlete support and welfare systems to ensure Sakamoto can approach his daily training and competitions in optimal condition, and continues to provide a supportive environment for training:

A culture is deeply rooted where the entire company respects and takes pride in the visible efforts of active athletes striving at a high level.

[Olympia Sports Club Athlete Support and Welfare]

Free Use of Facilities and Equipment: All staff can use the well-equipped, state-of-the-art machine gym, 6-lane heated pool, and other facilities free of charge, as long as it does not interfere with customers.

Flexible Shift Arrangements: The company proactively adjusts work schedules to prioritize securing practice time for competitions, travel, and intensive training periods.

Support for Activity Expenses and Travel: A comprehensive support system is in place for travel to competitions and other events.

Physical Care by a Physical Therapist: Once a month, a physical therapist with experience accompanying international competitions visits to support athlete conditioning.

Main Facilities: Latest machine gym, studios (2), 6-lane heated pool, indoor tennis courts (4), outdoor tennis courts (2), bathing facilities (sauna, open-air bath), etc.

From the "Excitement" of the Japan Championships to the National Sports Games in September

Using his experience at the Japan Championships as fuel, Sakamoto is currently continuing his daily training with the goal of competing and achieving success at the "National Sports Games (Kokutai = formerly National Sports Festival)" to be held in September 2026.

Standing on the nation's highest stage and feeling the presence of top-level rivals, Sakamoto continues to evolve. The "excitement" he directly conveys to members and children in the kids' school during his daily lessons is filled with real-world experience and skills that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

This is the ultimate environment for school students to learn by observing the actions of active athletes.

Sakamoto watching members practice.

A Choice to Work in Sports in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture

What Olympia Sports Club values is being a place where "not only customers but also the working staff can be genuinely energized."

They welcome individuals who wish to continue their athletic pursuits as active athletes, as well as those with a strong desire to "work as a full-time swimming instructor utilizing their past sports experience" or "contribute to the health of the local community through their passion for fitness."

In fact, the club has many senior staff members who have turned their passion for sports into careers, such as the head of the fitness department who joined right after high school and has been with the company for 27 years, and a former competitive swimmer who transitioned to become the assistant manager in his mid-30s.

Olympia Sports Club will not let you give up on either your challenges as an active athlete or your dreams as a coach. A choice to work in sports exists here in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture.

[Recruitment Overview]

Olympia Sports Club is looking for colleagues to join us in the following positions due to business expansion and program enhancement.

Positions Available: Swimming Instructor, Fitness Trainer, Tennis Coach, Front Desk Staff, Facility Cleaning Staff

Employment Type: Full-time employee, Contract employee, Part-time employee

Work Location: 18-13 Suenaga-cho, Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture (Car commuting possible, 300 parking spaces available)

Application Method: Web applications are accepted 24 hours a day via the recruitment information page below or the "Inquiry Button."

Inquiries by phone are also welcome (059-332-4848 / Weekdays 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM)

Recruitment Information Page: https://www.olympia-sportsclub.com/recruit/

Click here for recruitment inquiries.

The recruitment information page also features detailed job descriptions for each position and interview articles with senior staff.

[Company Overview]

Company Name: Morikin Ceramics Co., Ltd. Facility Name: Olympia Sports Club President: Akiko Mori Location: 18-13 Suenaga-cho, Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture, 510-0807 Access: Approximately 3 minutes on foot from Kintetsu Nagoya Line "Kawaramachi Station" / 300 flat parking spaces available Official Website: https://www.olympia-sportsclub.com/

Olympia Sports Club is a long-established comprehensive fitness club that opened in 1988 with a strong desire to "contribute to the health promotion of local residents." The 5th-generation president of Morikin Ceramics Co., Ltd., founded in 1850, brought back the sports club culture he witnessed while exporting Banko ware to the United States during his time there. Since then, it has delivered "excitement" to the lives of Yokkaichi residents and has continued to provide enjoyable and sustainable programs for those who feel that "exercise is tough" or "I'm worried I won't be able to stick with it." Currently, it offers a variety of programs including swimming, fitness, tennis, and dance, and is cherished as a "health power spot" for the community.