10 Days of “Dynamism and Excitement” at the Paralympics in Photographs

Momoka MURAOKA(25)

Alpine Skiing Women
Gold Medal in Downhill (Seated)
Super Giant Slalom (seated) Gold Medal
Super Combined (seated) Silver Medal
Giant Slalom (seated) Gold Medal
5th place in slalom (seated)

On March 13, the curtain came down on the Beijing Winter Paralympics. Japan won seven medals. In fact, Momoka Muraoka (25), the queen of Alpine skiing, won more than half of them. Sports journalist Kiyozumi Ninomiya, an expert on para-sports, looks back.

He skied a dominating performance, winning three gold medals and one silver, including the first medal of the competition for the Japanese team. Due to his disability, he had difficulty turning to the right, but this competition saw a dramatic improvement. It is likely that her upper body usage and core have been strengthened after she tried athletics at the Tokyo Paralympics last summer. The ski equipment she used this time was an original model developed jointly with Toyota Motor Corporation and other companies. I think the progress in understanding and support for athletes with disabilities has also been a factor in her rapid progress.

The presence of each other was a driving force for the new para-cross country skiing ace Taiki Kawayoke (21), who won a long-sought gold medal, and legendary skier Yoshihiro Nitta (41), who competed in his seventh consecutive event in the same discipline. Mr. Ninomiya continues.

Kawawaki has been following the great back of Nitta with the words “Impossibility is possibility” that Nitta gave him. On the other hand, when Nitta pushed himself to the verge of running out of oxygen, I could sense his determination not to be defeated by his rival and mentor.

Russian and Belarusian athletes were excluded due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Amidst the unusual tension, the athletes were dynamic to the best of their ability. The world was moved by their appearance.

Taiki Kawawake (21)

Men’s Cross Country Skiing
20km Classical (Standing) Gold Medal
Sprint (standing) 7th
12.5km (standing) 8th place
Relay 7th

He overcame his handicap of not being able to hold a stock because he was born without part of his fingers on both hands and feet by using a unique rhythmic pitch running method and dynamic skiing with his upper body. He showed off his impressive running skills.

Taiki Morii (41)

Alpine Skiing Men
Downhill (seated) Bronze Medal
Super-Giant Slalom (seated) Bronze Medal
Super Combined (seated) Abstention
Giant Slalom (seated) 8th
5th place in slalom (seated)

He converted his home into a gym so that he could train even with the Corona disaster. With her powerful skiing using her well-trained upper body, she achieved a remarkable feat of winning medals in five consecutive competitions.

Junta Kosuda (31)

Snowboard Men
Snowboard Cross (Lower Limb Disability LL1) 7th
Banked Slalom (Lower Limb Disability LL1) 10th

A number of athletes have been active in dual competition with the Summer Paralympics. Kosuda, who finished 7th in the long jump at the Tokyo Paralympics, was also able to compete in the top ranks at his first Winter Games.

Ryohei Ariyasu (35)

Men’s Cross Country Skiing
20km Classical (Visually Impaired) 7th
Sprint (visually impaired) 16th
12.5km (visually impaired) 16th

Despite his visual impairment, he and his guide Yuhei Fujita (29, pictured right) placed 7th in the Classical. He has experience placing 12th in the rowing event at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Keiichi Sato (42)

Men’s Cross Country Skiing
12.5km (standing) 12th
Biathlon Men
6km (standing) 11th
10km (standing) 9th
12.5km (standing) 7th

He took on the challenge of cross-country skiing and biathlon, using his stamina to finish 11th in the triathlon at the Rio Paralympics. His best result was 7th place.

Taku Misawa (34)

Alpine Ski Men
Downhill (standing) 14th
Super-Giant Slalom (Standing) Abstention
Super Combined (standing) 11th
Slalom (standing) Abandoned during the race

He was one of the few one-legged skiers among the many who use artificial legs, and competed in his fifth consecutive event. Although she did not win the medal she had hoped for, she stuck to her style until the end.

Noriko Kamiyama (49)

Alpine Skiing Women
Downhill (standing) 8th
Super Giant Slalom (Standing) 10th
Super Combined (standing) Disqualified
Giant Slalom (standing) 13th
Slalom (standing) 8th

Paralyzed on the left side of his body due to an illness and normally using a wheelchair, he began competing in earnest at the age of 40 and made his first Olympic appearance at the age of 49, the oldest member of the Japanese team this time. She competed in a total of five events.

Yoshihiro Nitta (41)

Men’s cross-country skiing
20km Classical (standing) 7th
Sprint (standing) 8th
Relay 7th

He has led the Japanese Para athletic world with seven consecutive appearances and three gold medals. Before the Games, she announced her retirement at the end of this season. He was on the attack until the very end, and finished on a high note by placing in all events!

From the April 1-8, 2022 issue of FRIDAY