Yukiko Ueno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yukiko Ueno |
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| Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen – No. 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born: July 22, 1982 Fukuoka, Japan |
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Medals
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Yukiko Ueno, born on July 22, 1982, is a famous Japanese professional softball pitcher. She plays for the Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen team and is a key player for the Japan women's national softball team. Yukiko is known for her super-fast fastball, which can reach about 128 kilometers per hour (80 miles per hour)! Many people think she is the fastest pitcher in women's softball.
She is also famous for her amazing change-up pitch, which is often called the best in the world. Yukiko has won many medals for Japan, including a bronze medal and two gold medals at the Summer Olympics. She even made history by throwing a perfect game at the Olympics.
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Yukiko Ueno's Softball Journey
Yukiko Ueno has had an incredible career in softball, winning many important games and medals. She has shown great skill and determination throughout her journey.
Early Career Highlights
In 2006, Yukiko played in the World Women's Softball Championship in Beijing. She pitched a fantastic game, shutting out the U.S. team in the semifinal. However, her team later lost to the same U.S. team in the final match.
Olympic Achievements and Perseverance
Yukiko Ueno is well-known for her amazing performances at the Olympic Games. She has shown incredible strength and endurance as a pitcher.
Beijing 2008: A Golden Moment
At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Yukiko faced the U.S. team again. She pitched for many innings, keeping the U.S. team from scoring. Even though her team lost to the U.S. in a playoff game, she didn't give up.
In the final game, Yukiko pitched a complete game against the U.S. team, allowing only one run. Her team won the gold medal! This was a huge victory for Japan.
An Unforgettable Pitching Feat
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Yukiko Ueno pitched an incredible amount. She threw over 600 pitches in just four days! In the last two days alone, she threw 413 pitches and completed three games. Two of these games even went into extra innings.
During the semifinal and final games, which lasted two days, Yukiko pitched 28 innings against the United States and Australia. These teams were considered to have the best batters in the world. A sports commentator, Rob Baird, called Yukiko's effort "one of the most amazing pitching performances in recent memory."
Tokyo 2020: Another Gold Medal=
Yukiko Ueno joined Team Japan again for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which took place in 2021. She had a great performance, winning two games for her team. She allowed only three earned runs and struck out 26 batters.
In the gold medal game on July 27, 2021, Yukiko pitched six innings against the U.S. team. With help from her teammate Miu Goto, they shut out the Americans, winning 2–0. This made Yukiko the first non-American pitcher to win two gold medals in Olympic softball.
