Saori Kimura facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saori Kimura |
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Kimura in 2014
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Saori Hidaka (after marriage) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Miracle Saorin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Saori Kimura August 19, 1986 Yashio, Saitama, Japan |
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| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spike | 304 cm (120 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Block | 293 cm (115 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volleyball information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing-spiker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Retired | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Saori Kimura (木村 沙織, Kimura Saori, born August 19, 1986) is a famous retired Japanese volleyball player. She was born on August 19, 1986. Saori played for the Toray Arrows team for many years. She was also the captain of the All-Japan women's volleyball team.
Saori Kimura is known for being a very flexible player. She could play almost any position on the volleyball court! She took part in four Summer Olympic Games: 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. At the 2012 London Olympics, she helped her team win a bronze medal.
After playing for Toray Arrows for a long time, Saori moved to play for VakıfBank Türk Telekom in Turkey in 2012. The next year, in 2013, she joined another Turkish team, Galatasaray Daikin. In 2014, she returned to her former team, Toray Arrows, in Japan. Saori Kimura announced her retirement from volleyball in 2017.
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Personal Life
Saori Kimura married beach volleyball player Yujiro Hidaka on December 31, 2016.
Clubs Saori Played For
Saori Kimura played for several volleyball clubs during her career. Here's a look at the teams she was a part of:
| Club | Country | Year |
| Shimokitazawa Seitoku Highschool |  Japan |
2002–2005 |
| Toray Arrows | Japan |
2005–2012 |
| VakıfBank |  Turkey |
2012–2013 |
| Galatasaray | Turkey |
2013–2014 |
| Toray Arrows | Japan |
2014–2017 |
Awards and Achievements
Saori Kimura won many awards and championships throughout her amazing career.
Individual Awards
Saori received many personal awards for her skills on the court:
- She was named the "New Face Award" winner in the V.League in 2005–06.
- She was recognized as the "Best Server" at the Asian Championships in 2007 and 2009.
- Saori was the "MVP" (Most Valuable Player) at the All Japan Championship in 2008 and the Kurowashi Tournament in 2009 and 2010.
- She was also named "MVP" and "Best Server" at the Piemonte Woman Cup Tournament in 2010.
- In 2010, she was the "Best Scorer" at the FIVB World Grand Prix.
- She was often chosen as one of the "Best 6" players in the V.Premier League multiple times.
Club Championships
Saori helped her teams win many important championships:
- She won the Domestic Sports Festival and the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows.
- Saori and Toray Arrows won the V.Premier League championship four times: in 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2009-2010, and 2011-2012.
- They also won the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship in 2009 and 2010.
- With VakıfBank in Turkey, she won the 2012-13 Turkish Cup, the CEV Champions League, and the 2012-13 Turkish Women's Volleyball League in 2012-2013.
National Team Highlights
Saori Kimura was a key player for the Japanese national team for many years.
- Olympic Games: She won a
Bronze Medal at the 2012 London Olympics. She also competed in the 2004, 2008, and 2016 Olympics. - World Championship: Saori earned a
Bronze Medal at the World Championship in Japan in 2010. - Asian Games: She won a
Silver Medal at the Asian Games in Qatar in 2006. - Asian Championship: Saori helped Japan win a
Gold Medal at the Asian Championship in Thailand in 2007. She also won silver medals in 2011 and 2013, and a bronze medal in 2009. - World Grand Prix: She won a
Silver Medal at the World Grand Prix in Japan in 2014. - World Grand Champions Cup: Saori won a Bronze Medal at the World Grand Champions Cup in Japan in 2013.
Saori Kimura's career was full of success, both with her clubs and with the Japanese national team. She is remembered as one of Japan's greatest volleyball players.
