Yukari Kawamoto


Yukari Kawamoto 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.
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Career

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.
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. 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 and silver in hoop.
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. Later that year, she was again selected to compete at the 1992 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, where she placed 16th.
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.
She retired in 1994 after winning her last national title. She now works for the city of Kiyose's sports department.