Saori Kimura Explained

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
Fullname:	Saori Kimura
Birth Date:	August 19, 1986
Birth Place:	Yashio, Saitama, Japan
Height:	185cm (73inches)^[1]
Weight:	65kg (143lb)
Spike:	304cm (120inches)
Block:	293cm (115inches)
Position:	Wing-spiker
Currentclub:	Retired
Years:	26
Nationalyears:	2003–2016
Medaltemplates-Expand:	yes
Medaltemplates-Title:	Medal record

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.

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 Kimura would join the next season.^[5]

In 2017, Kimura announced her retirement.

Clubs

Club	Country	Year
Shimokitazawa Seitoku Highschool		2002–2005
Toray Arrows		2005–2012
VakıfBank		2012–2013
Galatasaray		2013–2014
Toray Arrows		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

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 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

External links

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics. joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. 17 January 2014.
2. Web site: Saori Kimura Bio, Stats, and Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417212141/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ki/saori-kimura-1.html. dead. 2020-04-17. Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. 2016-03-22.
3. Web site: 木村沙織選手のトルコ1部リーグへの移籍について. Toray Arrows. 2012-07-10. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130909083249/http://www.toray-arrows.jp/women/topics/detail.html?key=ED73F1B7B5DF87CD49257A33001AF8BF. 2013-09-09.
4. Web site: 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 . ダイキン工業. 2013-06-03.
5. Web site: 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. Toray Arrows. 2014-06-05. 2015-01-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20150102021402/http://www.toray-arrows.jp/women/fans/topics/detail.html?key=63B6613BEE28631D49257CED0021843E. dead.