[Tennis Player Date Bids Fond Farewell] -Lesson 37/English in Today's World-
A Japanese tennis player once ranked fourth among women in the world has spoken in depth about her impending retirement. Kimiko Date announced last month that she would hang up her racket.
"I've always given 100 percent. So I have no regrets. I can say I was a happy athlete." Date, now 46, was speaking to reporters at Tokyo's Ariake Coliseum. That is where her most memorable match took place. There, in 1996, Date defeated Germany's Steffi Graf, then the world's No.1.
The same year, Date withdrew from competition. She said she had reached her physical and mental limits. But Date made a comeback 12 years later at 37 and went on to set a series of oldest-player records.
"Age doesn't matter. Always think about what you want to do and continue to do it. I believe I showed that to my fans. With a little courage, you can open the doors to the world."
Last month, she decided to retire because of knee trouble and old shoulder injuries. She will take part in her final tournament next week. (2017/9/8, NHK World)
[Discussion]
Hannah: Wow, what a powerful person! I am always impressed by people who once were very successful in their youth but then after taking a long break made a comeback at an older age.
Sam: Yes, I believe George Foreman did that as well in 1994. At 28 years old, he announced he would hang up his boxing gloves. But then he was able to reclaim the heavyweight champion title at the age of 45!
Hannah: I think it's important never to give up on life. You never know what you will achieve at any age!
Sam: I agree, if we work to live life to the fullest, then maybe we can also say, "I have no regrets," like Kimiko Date.
Hannah: That's my goal!
◆見出し[Tennis Player Date Bids Fond Farewell]=[Japanese professional tennis player Kimiko Date has bid fond farewell to her career.]
◆[hang up her racket]=[hang up her racket on the wall for good]「商売道具であるラケットを、壁の高い所に、永遠に掛けてしまう」
⇒[hang up one's (boxing) gloves] (ボクサーが)引退する
⇒[hang up one's sword] (剣士が)引退する
⇒[hang up one's whistle] (サッカーなどの審判が)引退する
⇒[hang up the phone] (昔の壁掛け電話時代の名残で)電話を切る
■[once]「かつて」
A Japanese tennis player once ranked fourth among women in the world has spoken in depth about her impending retirement.
⇒I once thought of dropping out of school, but I'm glad I continued.
■[hang up one's racket]「(テニス選手が)引退する」
Kimiko Date announced last month that she would hang up her racket.
⇒She says she's hanging up her goggles, but I think she'll swim in the next international competition.
■[regret]「後悔」
I've always given 100 percent. So I have no regrets.
⇒One day, you'll have regrets about not studying English harder in school.
[words and phrases]
-[bid farewell] 別れを告げる、-[fond] 好きで/愛情のある/懐かしい、
⇒[bid fond farewell] 名残を惜しみながら別れを告げる、引退する
-[impending] 間近に迫っている/間もなく起きる、
-[regret] 残念、遺憾(の意)、後悔(の言葉)、哀悼、
⇒[poignant regret] 痛恨、[poignant sarcasm ]鋭い皮肉/深刻な諷刺、
⇒[the act of shedding tears of regret]悔やし泣き
-[coliseum] コロシアム、巨大な競技場
-[defeat] ～を負かす、～に勝つ
-[for good] 永久に、これを最後に、(利益のために)、
