Sarina Koga-Nishida emerged as one of the pillars of Japanese women's volleyball ever since her arrival in the international scene in 2015.
Now that Paris 2024 is in the books, Sarina Koga’s storied volleyball career also reached the finish line.
Koga-Nishida spoke on her last Olympic run with the Japanese volleyball team in Paris and revealed that she told her family about her decision to retire as early as the Tokyo 2020, and that Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be “my last stop.”
"I told my family that Paris would be my last stop after the Tokyo Olympics. They knew from the beginning and I knew it was really the last time. It was a great memory for me because I was with them in my last moments."
The Japanese volleyball star admitted that there is still no clear directions with regards to her future plans, but is ready to take on the next challenge nonetheless.
"I am really undecided about the future, but I am looking forward to enjoying it a little bit," Koga said.
Despite not progressing to the quarterfinals in Paris, Japan gave its star hitter a fitting farewell as Hinotori Nippon scored a 25-17, 25-22, 25-12 sweep of Kenya. Sarina had a team-high 16 points coming from 14 attacks, a block, and an ace in the victory.
[ALSO READ: Sarina Koga wins her farewell game as Japan sweeps Kenya to end Paris 2024 campaign]
The 28-year-old did not hide her disappointment after a medal-less campaign in Paris, but remains optimistic that Japanese volleyball will be in great hands for years to come.
“We really didn't reach our goal of a medal, and that was really frustrating. It was frustrating, but we had been practicing for a long time to fight as a team.”
“I believe that what we have accumulated in the past will not disappear in the slightest. I think everyone, including myself, really worked hard in the competition,” she said.
Koga made the shocking announcement of her retirement last July, revealing that she is set to leave the sport after the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
[ALSO READ: Japan ace Sarina Koga to retire from volleyball after Paris 2024]
Earlier, she led Japan to a silver-medal finish in the Volleyball Nations League in June, the country's first medal in VNL play. Sarina likewise led the NEC Red Rockets to back-to-back V1 championships in March, ending the perfect run of Jaja Santiago and JT Marvelous in the Finals.
The explosive outside hitter is married to Japan men's national team player Yuji Nishida, who was also present in the press conference.