Exclusive Interview with Legendary Ski Jumper Noriaki Kasai, 51: “I Can Still Do It, You Know?”

I don’t feel like I’m at my limit.”

For example, in the Flying Hill event, the height difference of the jump platform is 230 meters, about the same as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. Failure to do so could result in serious injury or even death. The extreme tension of the competition would leave the competitors mentally drained if they did not refresh themselves properly.

My Finnish coach advised me to forget all about jumping after the competition. In the past, I would have rebelled, saying, ‘My way is ……. But I was devastated by the disastrous loss at the Salt Lake City Olympics and had zero confidence. Once I accepted the advice of my Finnish coach and took a break from jumping, my head became clearer and I felt more relaxed.

The fateful Sochi Olympics (2002) arrived. Kasai, 41 years and 8 months old, won his first medal as an individual (large hill) in his seventh Olympics.

It was silver,” he said. I am half disappointed that I did not win gold, and half happy that I won a medal. Tsuchiya Home, the company I belong to, has a company motto, “Ten Precepts for Success. One of them is, “Adversity is the greatest chance that heaven has given you. These words supported me. At the Sochi Olympics, I imagined myself overcoming adversity and standing on the podium with tears in my eyes many times. Specific goals motivate me.”

The reason she is still active at the forefront of the sport even after turning 50 is because she has a well-rounded mind, body, and spirit.

Some people say that an athlete’s limits are felt around the age of 40,” he says. But I don’t feel anything at this point. I practice about one-third less than I did when I was younger, but I’ve been working on my body thoroughly so that I can fly farther. This January alone, I drove 150 km on snow-covered roads, and I limit my daily energy intake to 1,500 calories. It is said that an increase of one kilogram in body weight causes a loss of two meters in flying distance.

Even though he is a veteran, he does not stick to his own way of doing things. He is also learning from younger players.

Recently, I had a period of poor results, so I took a lesson from Yuki Ito, 29, a former apprentice of mine,” he says. By taking a cue from her posture of not raising her upper body, I was able to regain a powerful step. （She may have been the reason I was able to win the TVh Cup (mentioned at the beginning of this article). I still have the same desire to ‘win. The frustration of losing ignites my fighting spirit, no matter how old I get. I am excited that I can continue to grow.

Kasai’s competitive style, which he has cultivated by overcoming numerous trials, is undiminished. The words he said at the end of our interview sunk deep into my heart.

Look, you can still do it.