“And I Chose to Live” The Blind Sailor Mitsuhiro Iwamoto Takes the Stage at WEF
“HIRO’s CHOICE”: A Solo, Non-Stop Crossing of the Pacific Ocean
*WEF URL: https://www.weforum.org/
Hiro Iwamoto / Global Keynote Speaker, First Totally Blind Sailor to Cross the Pacific
*Project URL: https://hiros-choice.com/
The theme of his speech was “Sailing Through Barriers.” He spoke about how, since losing his sight at the age of 13, he has consistently chosen challenge as his path forward. Among his most powerful words was the reflection: “In that darkness, I faced a choice—to surrender, or to live. And I chose to live.”
Even after failing in his first attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean, Iwamoto once again chose challenge. That choice led him to successfully complete the crossing in 2019, a moment he described by saying: “A dream that once drowned in darkness finally reached the shore—filled with light.”
Looking ahead to his planned solo, non-stop trans-Pacific crossing in 2027, he concluded by saying: “Not to prove what I can do, but to explore what is possible. Boundaries are not decided by others. They are transcended by choice.”
His remarks were met with resounding applause from the audience.
WEF URL: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/sessions/sailing-through-barriers/
A press conference related to this voyage will be held on January 28, 2026, at 1 p.m. (local time) Point Loma Marina in San Diego, USA.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260121469502/en/
Website: https://hiros-choice.com/
Contact
Blind Sailor Single-Handed Pacific Crossing Project 2027
Kaori Awamura
+81-90-3100-3976
press@hiros-choice.com
awamura@hiros-choice.com
Challenged Athletes Foundation
Christy Fritts
+1.858.442.9570
christy@challengedathletes.org
This news is a press release provided by Blind Sailor Single-Handed Pacific Crossing Project 2027.
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