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Saori Kimura
Saori kimura.jpg
Kimura in 2014
Personal information
Full name Saori Hidaka (after marriage)
Nickname Miracle Saorin
Born Saori Kimura
(1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 38)
Yashio, Saitama, Japan
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
Years Teams
2005–2012 Toray Arrows
2012–2013 VakıfBank
2013–2014 Galatasaray
2014–2017 Toray Arrows
National team
2003–2016  JPN
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze 2012 London Team
World Championship
Bronze 2010 Japan Team
World Grand Champions Cup
Bronze 2013 Japan Team
World Grand Prix
Silver 2014 Japan Team
Asian Games
Silver 2006 Doha Team
Asian Championship
Gold 2007 Suphanburi Team
Bronze 2009 Hanoi Team
Silver 2011 Taipei Team
Silver 2013 Nakhon Ratchasima Team

Saori Kimura (木村 沙織, Kimura Saori, born August 19, 1986) is a famous retired Japanese volleyball player. She played for the Toray Arrows club. Saori was also the captain of the All-Japan women's volleyball team.

She competed in four Summer Olympics: 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016. At the 2012 London Olympics, her team won a bronze medal. Saori was known for being very flexible. She could play almost any position on the volleyball court!

Saori Kimura retired from playing volleyball in 2017.

Saori Kimura's Volleyball Journey

Saori Kimura started her professional career with the Toray Arrows. She played there from 2005 to 2012.

Playing in Turkey

In 2012, Saori moved to Turkey to play for VakıfBank Türk Telekom. She played there for one season. After that, in 2013, she joined another Turkish team, Galatasaray Daikin.

Returning to Japan

In 2014, Saori decided to return to Japan. She rejoined her former team, Toray Arrows. She played with them until her retirement in 2017.

Early Life and Family

Saori Kimura began playing volleyball when she was in elementary school. By the time she was in sixth grade, people already noticed she was a very strong defender.

She went to Seitoku High School in Tokyo, which was a very strong volleyball school. In 2003, her high school team won a big volleyball tournament. Later that year, Saori was invited to train with Japan's senior national women's team. This was a huge step for her career!

Saori Kimura married beach volleyball player Yujiro Hidaka on December 31, 2016.

Teams Saori Played For

Saori Kimura played for several teams during her career. Here is a list of the clubs she was a part of:

Club Country Years
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 throughout her amazing volleyball career.

Individual Awards

  • 2005–06: New Face Award in the 12th Women's V.League
  • 2007: Best Server at the 14th Senior Asian Championship in Thailand
  • 2007-08: MVP (Most Valuable Player) at the All Japan Championship 2008
  • 2007-08: Best 6 in the Women's V.Premier League
  • 2008-09: Best 6 in the Women's V.Premier League
  • 2009: MVP at the 58th Kurowashi Tournament
  • 2009: Best Server at the 15th Senior Asian Championship in Vietnam
  • 2009-10: MVP and Best 6 in the Women's V.Premier League
  • 2010: MVP and Best 6 at the 59th Kurowashiki Tournament
  • 2010: Best Server and MVP at the Piemonte Woman Cup Tournament
  • 2010: "Best Scorer" at the FIVB World Grand Prix
  • 2010-11: Excellent Player Award in the Women's V.Premier League
  • 2011: Best 6 at the 60th Kurowashi Tournament
  • 2011-12: Best 6 in the Women's V.Premier League

Club Achievements

Saori helped her clubs win many championships:

  • 2007: Champion of the Domestic Sports Festival (Volleyball) with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2007-2008: Champion of the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2007-2008: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2008: Runner-Up at the Domestic Sports Festival with Toray Arrows. Gorm silver cup.jpg
  • 2008-2009: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2009: Champion of the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2009-2010: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2010: Champion of the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2010-2011: Runner-Up at the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows. Gorm silver cup.jpg
  • 2010-2011: Runner-Up in the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows. Gorm silver cup.jpg
  • 2011-2012: Champion of the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2011-2012 V.Premier League: Champion with Toray Arrows. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2012-13 Turkish Cup: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2012–13 CEV Champions League: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü. Simple cup icon.svg
  • 2012-13 Turkish Women's Volleyball League: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü. Simple cup icon.svg

Saori's National Team Career

Saori Kimura was a key player for the Japan women's national volleyball team for many years.

Major Tournaments and Medals

Saori-2
Saori Kimura playing for Japan at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
  • 2003: 5th place in the World Cup in Japan.
  • 2004: 5th place in the Olympic Games of Athens in Greece.
  • 2005: Med 3.png Bronze Medal in the 13th Senior Asian Championship in China.
  • 2006: 6th place in the World Championship in Japan.
  • 2006: Asian Games Silver medal blank.svg Silver Medal in Asian Games 2006 in Qatar.
  • 2007: Med 1.png Gold Medal in the 14th Senior Asian Championship in Thailand.
  • 2007: 7th place in the World Cup in Japan.
  • 2008: 6th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in Japan.
  • 2008: 5th place in the Olympic Games of Beijing in China.
  • 2009: 6th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in Japan.
  • 2009: Med 3.png Bronze Medal in the 15th Senior Asian Championship in Vietnam.
  • 2009: 4th place in the World Grand Champion Cup in Japan.
  • 2010: Med 1.png Gold Medal in Piemonte Woman Cup Tournament in Italy.
  • 2010: 5th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in China.
  • 2010: Med 3.png Bronze Medal in the World Championship in Japan.
  • 2011: Med 1.png Gold Medal in the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland.
  • 2011: 5th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in Macau, China.
  • 2011: Med 2.png Silver Medal in the 16th Senior Asian Championship in Taiwan.
  • 2011: 4th place in the World Cup in Japan.
  • 2012: Bronze medal.svg Bronze Medal in the Olympic Games of London in the U.K.
  • 2013: 4th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in Japan.
  • 2013: Med 2.png Silver medal in the Asian Championship in Thailand.
  • 2013: Med 3.png Bronze Medal in the Grand Champions Cup in Japan.
  • 2014: Med 2.png Silver medal in the 2014 Grand Prix in Japan.
  • 2014: 7th place in the World Championship in Italy.
  • 2015: Med 2.png Silver medal in the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland.
  • 2015: 6th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in the United States.
  • 2015: 5th place in the World Cup in Japan.
  • 2016: 5th place in the Olympic Games of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
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