Yukari Kawamoto

Yukari Kawamoto (Japanese: 川本 ゆかり, born June 13, 1970, Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan) is a retired Japanese individual rhythmic gymnast. She was the first rhythmic gymnastics Asian Games champion in 1994, was a five-time national champion, and competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Kawamoto began gymnastics when she was in fifth grade at about age 11. She was a five-time all-around national champion from 1990 to 1994.^[1]

In 1989, she competed at her first World Championships in Sarajevo. She placed 41st. Two years later, she placed 23rd at the 1991 World Championships.^[2] That year, she competed at the 1991 Summer Universiade, the first year that rhythmic gymnastics were included in the Universiade, and won two medals: silver in rope (tied with He Xiaomin) and silver in hoop.^[3]

The next year, she competed for Japan in the individual rhythmic gymnastics all-around competition at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She placed 37th in the qualification round and didn't advance to the final.^[4] Later that year, she was again selected to compete at the 1992 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, where she placed 16th.^[2]

In 1993, she competed at the World Championships and placed 15th, her best results at the World Championships.

In 1994, the Asian Games held a rhythmic gymnastics competition for the first time. Kawamoto won the event's first gold medal; her teammate Miho Yamada won the bronze medal.^[5]

She retired in 1994 after winning her last national title. She now works for the city of Kiyose's sports department.^[1]

• Yukari Kawamoto at Sports-Reference.com