Kokumai, the first American to qualify for karate in the Olympics, wrote via Instagram on March 23 about her long and difficult journey to get to where she is today. "This was not an easy road. It was lonely, things were uncertain. 21 international competition over the course of two years. Travelling and training alone, walking into the ring alone," she wrote. "Many uncertainties now, but we will get through this. Just need to focus on what we can control and keep working towards our dreams."