Japan Secures Bronze in Milan-Cortina Olympic Ski Jumping Mixed Team Event
Japan’s pursuit of a record-breaking medal haul at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics gained momentum on February 11th, as the nation’s ski jumping mixed team secured a bronze medal at the Predazzo Jump Stadium. This marks the first podium finish for Japan in this event, fueled by a determined performance and a roster of athletes already decorated with individual accolades.
A Team of Champions
The Japanese team, comprised of two men and two women, boasted a formidable lineup of medalists. Leading off was Nozomi Maruyama, fresh off a bronze medal in the women’s individual normal hill competition on February 8th. She was followed by Ryosuke Kobayashi, the Beijing Olympics gold medalist, then Sara Takanashi, a bronze medalist at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, and anchored by Ren Nikaido, who claimed bronze in the men’s individual normal hill event on February 10th. This “all medalists” team entered the competition with high expectations.
Overcoming Past Disappointment
For Takanashi, the victory carried particular significance. Her previous result in the mixed team event at the 2022 Beijing Games was nullified due to a “violation of suit regulations,” resulting in a fourth-place finish and a moment of visible heartbreak. “It wasn’t just my ability that allowed me to jump, but the support of the people around me that allowed me to stand on this stage. I was really moved to win a medal there,” Takanashi expressed. She also acknowledged the contributions of teammates from the previous Games, stating, “I couldn’t win the medal with Yuki [Ito] and Koyasu [Sato] who flew with me back then, but I was able to stand on this stage and win the medal… It’s thanks to Yuki-san and Koyasu-san that I’m able to stand here now.”
A Two-Round Battle for the Podium
The competition, featuring 12 teams, saw Japan initially place second after the first round, trailing Slovenia by a mere 9.7 points. Maruyama’s opening jump of 97 meters earned 118.9 points, placing her third. While Kobayashi followed with a jump exceeding 100 meters, the team slipped to fifth place with a total of 252.2 points. Takanashi then soared 96.5 meters, propelling Japan back into third position, behind Slovenia and Norway. Nikaido’s strong jump of 103 meters secured their advancement to the second round.
The second round proved to be a nail-biting affair. Maruyama jumped 97.5 meters, maintaining third place. Kobayashi followed with 98.5 meters, briefly elevating Japan to second, but Slovenia remained 20.7 points ahead. Takanashi’s jump of 97 meters saw Japan fall back to third. Ultimately, it was Nikaido’s final jump of 101 meters that sealed the bronze medal for Japan, holding off any late challenges.
Slovenia Claims Gold
Slovenia dominated the competition, securing the gold medal with a total of 1069.2 points. Norway claimed silver with 1038.3 points, while Japan finished with 1034.0 points.
“I’m really happy that I was able to win the bronze medal again with the help of everyone on the team,” said Maruyama. Kobayashi, visibly emotional, added, “I’m very happy and deeply emotional. Everyone has been in a difficult situation for four years, but I’m satisfied that we were able to perform well despite that.” Nikaido, relieved to secure the medal, noted, “I think it was really frustrating for all the countries in the last tournament, so in that sense, considering today’s members, I think it was good that we were able to get a medal.”
[Ski jumping mixed team results]
Gold: Slovenia 1069.2 points
Silver: Norway 1038.3 points
Bronze: Japan 1034.0 points
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