Saori Kimura

Saori Kimura (木村 沙織, Kimura Saori, born August 19, 1986) is a retired Japanese volleyball player who played for Toray Arrows. She also played for the All-Japan women's volleyball team and was a captain of the team. She was a participant at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics, 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 2012.^[2] She was so versatile that she could play any position.

Saori Kimura
Personal information
Full name	Saori Kimura
Nickname	Japan's future Infinite Saorin (ニッポンの未来 サオリン無限大), and Miracle Saorin
Born	(1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 36) Yashio, Saitama, Japan
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)^[1]
Weight	65 kg (143 lb)
Spike	304 cm (120 in)
Block	293 cm (115 in)
Volleyball information
Position	Wing-spiker
Current club	Retired
National team
2003–2016  Japan
Medal record Women's volleyball Representing  Japan Olympic Games 2012 London Team World Championship 2010 Japan Team World Grand Champions Cup 2013 Japan Team World Grand Prix 2014 Japan Team Asian Games 2006 Doha Team Asian Championship 2007 Suphanburi Team 2009 Hanoi Team 2011 Taipei Team 2013 Nakhon Ratchasima Team

On 10 July 2012, Toray announced that Kimura will move to VakıfBank Türk Telekom next season.^[3]

On 3 June 2013, Daikin (which is a sponsor of Galatasaray Daikin) announced that Kimura will move to Galatasaray Daikin next season.^[4]

On 5 June 2014 Toray Arrows announced her joining next season.^[5]

In 2017, she announced her retirement.

Clubs

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

Individuals

• The 12th Women's V.League - New Face Award (2005–06)
• 2007 14th Senior Asian Championship at Thailand - Best Server
• 2007-08 All Japan Championship 2008 - MVP
• 2007-08 Women's V.Premier League - Best 6
• 2008-09 Women's V.Premier League - Best 6
• 2009 58th Kurowashi Tournament - MVP
• 2009 15th Senior Asian Championship at Vietnam - Best Server
• 2009-10 Women's V.Premier League MVP, Best 6
• 2010 59th Kurowashiki Tournament MVP, Best6
• 2010 Piemonte Woman Cup Tournament - Best Server and MVP
• 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix "Best Scorer"
• 2010-11 Women's V.Premier League - Excellent player award
• 2011 60th Kurowashi Tournament - Best6
• 2011-12 Women's V.Premier League Best 6

Clubs

• 2007 Domestic Sports Festival (Volleyball) -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2007-2008 Empress's Cup -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2007-2008 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2008 Domestic Sports Festival -   Runner-Up, with Toray Arrows.
• 2008-2009 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2009 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2009-2010 V.Premier League -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2010 Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Championship -   Champion, with Toray Arrows.
• 2010-2011 Empress's Cup -   Runner-Up, with Toray Arrows.
• 2010-2011 V.Premier League -   Runner-Up, with Toray Arrows.
• 2011-2012 Empress's Cup -   Champion, 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

National team

 

Saori Kimura at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Senior Team

• 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 Game 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

References

1. "Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics". joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
2. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
3. Toray Arrows. . Archived from the original on 2013-09-09. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
4. ダイキン工業. "木村沙織選手がトルコのバレーボールチーム「ガラタサライ・ダイキン」に移籍". Retrieved 2013-06-03.
5. Toray Arrows. "東レアローズ女子バレーボール部への木村沙織選手の入団について". Retrieved 2014-06-05.

External links

• FIVB biography
• Toray Arrows Women's Volleyball Team
• FIVB VOLLEYBALL World Cup 2007

Awards
Preceded by   Yang Hao	Best Server of FIVB World Grand Prix 2008	Succeeded by   Manon Flier