It started out the way most predicted it would end up: with China winning. In the first mixed doubles event in Olympic history, China's Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen (pictured, background) entered as the top seeds, a position befitting the defending World Champions. Representing the host nation of Japan, Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani represented the second seeds. Ito and Mizutani nearly finished on the medal bubble, needing a miraculous comeback in the quarterfinals against Germany. After a relatively easy semifinal matchup with Chinese Taipei, they faced the prohibitive favorites China for the gold. Ito and Mizutani were 0-3 all time against Liu and Xu, dating to 2019. China's Xu and Liu won the first two games comfortably, and it looked like Japan's quest for its first-ever gold medal in table tennis would continue indefinitely. Then, perhaps imagining the wild support of the fans in the empty stands, Ito and Mizutani rallied to take the lead, 3-2. Lu and Xiu rebounded to force the decider, which Ito and Mizutani won comfortably for the gold, (5-11, 7-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-9, 6-11, 11-6). "I’m just so, so happy!" said Ito. "0-2 was very tough, but I switched my mindset, and after that, I was able to play more to my style. I really thought I shouldn’t be mentally defeated. I felt a great deal of pressure at 0-2, but I knew I could overcome it with my partner. I just enjoy the Olympic Games so much because there are lots of unpredictable elements." Mizutani, for his part, could hardly believe what they had accomplished. "I’m just so proud," he marveled." We knew the Chinese pair were very strong, and we knew we would have to give 150%! Even then, we weren’t sure if we would have enough to overcome them. I really feel the Olympic Games is a special occasion." If history were any predictor, Mima Ito and Jun Mizutani would have continued playing a supporting role to their Chinese rivals. Instead, they avenged their previous defeats at the best possible time. While their record against Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen is still a lackluster 1-3, that one win is worth its weight in gold.

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