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 nameSaori Kimura
NicknameMiracle Saorin
Born (1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 38)
Yashio, Saitama, Japan
Height185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Weight65 kg (143 lb)
Spike304 cm (120 in)
Block293 cm (115 in)
Volleyball information
PositionWing-spiker
Current clubRetired
Career
YearsTeams
2005–2012Toray Arrows
2012–2013VakıfBank
2013–2014Galatasaray
2014–2017Toray Arrows
National team
2003–2016 Japan
Medal record
Women's volleyball
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London Team
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Japan Team
World Grand Champions Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Japan Team
World Grand Prix
Silver medal – second place 2014 Japan Team
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2006 Doha Team
Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place 2007 Suphanburi Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Hanoi Team
Silver medal – second place 2011 Taipei Team
Silver medal – second place 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 Kimura would join the next season.[5]

In 2017, Kimura announced her retirement.

Clubs

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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

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Individuals

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  • 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

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National team

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Saori Kimura at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro

Senior Team

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References

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  1. ^ "Japanese Medalists in London 2012 Olympics". joc.or.jp. Japanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 17 January 2014.
  2. ^ "Saori Kimura Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
  3. ^ Toray Arrows. "木村沙織選手のトルコ1部リーグへの移籍について". 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". Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2014-06-05.
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Awards
Preceded by Best Server of
FIVB World Grand Prix

2008
Succeeded by