Saori Kimura facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saori Kimura
Kimura in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Saori Hidaka (after marriage)
Nickname	Miracle Saorin
Born	Saori Kimura (1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 39) 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.
• 2007-2008: Champion of the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows.
• 2007-2008: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows.
• 2008: Runner-Up at the Domestic Sports Festival with Toray Arrows.
• 2008-2009: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows.
• 2009: Champion of the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship with Toray Arrows.
• 2009-2010: Champion of the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows.
• 2010: Champion of the Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship with Toray Arrows.
• 2010-2011: Runner-Up at the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows.
• 2010-2011: Runner-Up in the V.Premier League with Toray Arrows.
• 2011-2012: Champion of the Empress's Cup with Toray Arrows.
• 2011-2012 V.Premier League: Champion with Toray Arrows.
• 2012-13 Turkish Cup: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü.
• 2012–13 CEV Champions League: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü.
• 2012-13 Turkish Women's Volleyball League: Champion with Vakıfbank Spor Kulübü.

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 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: Bronze Medal in the 13th Senior Asian Championship in China.
• 2006: 6th place in the World Championship in Japan.
• 2006: Silver Medal in Asian Games 2006 in Qatar.
• 2007: 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: Bronze Medal in the 15th Senior Asian Championship in Vietnam.
• 2009: 4th place in the World Grand Champion Cup in Japan.
• 2010: Gold Medal in Piemonte Woman Cup Tournament in Italy.
• 2010: 5th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in China.
• 2010: Bronze Medal in the World Championship in Japan.
• 2011: Gold Medal in the Montreux Volley Masters in Switzerland.
• 2011: 5th place in the World Grand Prix Final round in Macau, China.
• 2011: Silver Medal in the 16th Senior Asian Championship in Taiwan.
• 2011: 4th place in the World Cup in Japan.
• 2012: 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: Silver medal in the Asian Championship in Thailand.
• 2013: Bronze Medal in the Grand Champions Cup in Japan.
• 2014: Silver medal in the 2014 Grand Prix in Japan.
• 2014: 7th place in the World Championship in Italy.
• 2015: 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.