Anri Kawamura Interview

In the 2022 season, when the Beijing Olympics were held, Anri Kawamura missed out on the overall victory by a small margin, leaving behind rare results of 7 podiums and 3 wins at the World Cup. Although she didn't get the medal she hoped for at the Beijing Olympics, her ability and presence are becoming overwhelming. What is the source of her strength? As she looked back from her skiing journey, she approached her secret. We're in the middle of her season, but here's what we heard from her offseason.

Photo/Sho Endo

From the feeling of brushing teeth to "fun to challenge"

ーーWhen did you start skiing?

I started skiing when I was 3 years old and started moguls when I was 4.

ーーWhy did you start?

My grandparents loved skiing and had an apartment in Yuzawa. When I went skiing there with my parents for leisure, it became fun from there.

ーーDo you remember how you felt when you skied for the first time and when you thought it was fun?

I really don't remember that (laughs).
Before I knew it, I felt like I was doing moguls.
Since then, skiing has become a part of my daily life, and rather than feeling that skiing is fun, I've been skiing as if I was brushing my teeth. I don't really remember when or what made me enjoy skiing. However, I think he felt very happy when he continued to challenge difficult courses and skied well.

ーーHow old do you remember it?　

I've had that feeling ever since I started skiing. I remember feeling like that since I was 6 or 7 years old or in elementary school.

ーーDid you like to challenge something difficult? Are you competitive?

I think so.
I joined the national team around the same time as Daichi-kun (Daichi Hara), but when Daichi-kun started doing backflips, he said, "I definitely want to do it too! I want to do it with you!" I always had this feeling that I didn't want to lose to Daichi and other male players. I think I have had a sore loser since I was little.

ーーDid that motivate you to ski?

I agree.
After all, it's not fun if you don't keep trying. I think that taking on challenges is what makes skiing fun. I think I really enjoy taking on challenges and growing.

When I first started skiing, I was reckless and constantly challenging myself. I think doing it is a challenge for me now.

ーーWhen you take on challenges, there are quite a few hardships and hardships that make you feel like you're going to break your heart, right?

I agree.
I'm the type of person who thinks jumping is pretty scary, so I think it's really scary to go to a new jumping hill and try to jump or start using a new technique. But I can't give up and fight with the techniques I can now, but I don't want to stay there. I try to challenge myself with the belief that there will definitely be something ahead of me. But, after all, scary things are scary (laughs).

ーーIs there something like a charm to shake off the fear?

No, I don't have a particular routine. Really, just believing that there is absolutely something ahead of the challenge, and thinking that there is no choice but to do it. I think that's my own trick to shake off fear.

ーーWhen you hit a difficult wall, it's normal to want to run away, but you know the joy of surpassing it. Do you remember the first time you challenged a competition overseas (2020 World Cup Luka 2nd place)?

I have. At that time, it was my first overseas expedition, so I think I was really nervous, but I think I was able to skate properly as usual.

like me

ーーWhen I read various articles by Anri, I felt that the phrase “be yourself” left a strong impression on me. What does it mean to skate in your own way and have fun?

That's right, it's not a skate that cares about the result and sticks to the score, but a skate that you're really aiming for and that proves what you've done.
I want to skate at a competition where I can show what I've built up so far. There are times when I'm obsessed with the results or worrying about the score and skiing, but at times like that I can't go on the offensive, or rather, I feel like I'm not myself.
If I decide to go on the offensive, or just keep doing what I've been doing in the competition, when I look back on my skating, I'll think, 'That's really good.' I think it's a ski that I want to try.
Without worrying about the result, I'm very conscious of skating with everything I have as I am.

ーーThat is the result.

Of course, I also want to win, and I want to get on the podium. Rather than that, I want to cherish doing the best that I can, rather than demonstrating everything I have.

ーーDo you have any tips for being yourself?

Before, I used to compare myself with other people and despise myself, saying that I was inferior in this part, that I was completely useless.
But now I don't compare myself to other people, but to my former self.
In order to evolve from past skiing and jumping techniques, I am working on new things every day, and I am sure that I am definitely changing. I thought it was good. I can feel myself, so I try very hard to see my own growth.

ーーBy continuing to take on challenges, you surpass yourself. Have you ever wanted to quit moguls, such a strong Anri?

When I was in elementary school and junior high school, I had to practice skiing every day while I was playing with my friends after school.
I was doing it because I wanted to, but I wanted to hang out with my friends, and skiing didn't go well at all... There were times when I thought I wanted to quit. But when asked if I really wanted to quit, I didn't.
I enjoy skiing, and skiing is so much a part of my life that I don't know how I would live without it.
There are times when I say, "No more!" (laughs), but I've never really thought about quitting.

Although moguls are an individual event, the expedition is a team activity. The good teamwork has led to the good results of the Japanese team. From left: Rino Yanagimoto, Hinako Tomitaka, Anri Kawamura Photo/Sho Endo

ーー Looking at Anri-san's interview article, it's overall very positive, and I think there are a lot of really positive stories. It feels so good to read it, I think it cheers me up.

The dream come true for the Beijing Olympics

--Beijing Olympics. I heard that you had dreamed of going to Beijing since you were a child. How did you feel when you were able to go to Beijing?

I was really happy. I was just so happy.

ーーWhat did you imagine at that time?

Perform your own style on the stage you've always dreamed of. I thought it would be nice if I could enjoy the place as I am.

ーーDid you come here thinking that it might be fun instead of winning or losing?

There were times when I would compare myself to other players, but no matter what other people think, it's something that I've built up, and the road I've built up to this point is definitely something that other people can't do anything about. So start believing in yourself.
During the Olympics, I always thought so and went to the competition.

ーーHow was it when you saw the slide?

Well, that slide itself was really good. In competitions that focus on winning, I would start with the result in mind. After starting, I was able to do what I had to do and get down to the bottom, so it's a very memorable one. I think it was one that really showed my personality.

ーーThe result was 5th place, just short of a medal. I can imagine that it must have been quite frustrating, but was there anything that led you to become the mind that you just talked about?

Last season, I had a lot of results and results.
But in the opening round in Luca, I finished in 9th place, so I took it seriously and focused on myself, thinking about what I was lacking and where I wanted to improve my skills. In an instant, I saw that I was skiing for myself. I thought a lot about what I really wanted to do.
Since then, I think I've come to be able to carry on with the mindset of skating what I want to do for myself at competitions.

ーーBy the way, when you finished 9th in the season opener, were there any specific changes you felt you had to make?

I agree. After all, the most important thing is the mental aspect of being too obsessed with results. From the official training to the tournament, I didn't have enough preparations, but I really felt that Luca was a little excited, thinking that he might be able to win. I came up with the idea of ​​changing it again.

ーーDoes the fact that you focused on the results from the first race have a strong influence from being an Olympic year?

Well, I wasn't thinking about it too much, but I was heading towards the Olympics, so I think it was a big deal.

ーーYou say you enjoy skiing by taking on challenges, but is there anything else that makes you enjoy skiing?

I love the moment when I'm skiing. I really like the moment when I'm gliding over the snow. But what I like the most is that I can challenge myself a lot.

- It's not that I'm stoic, but I always put a load on it...

Well, I've grown up in that kind of environment for a long time, so it's already taken for granted.
But, of course, setting goals for yourself and the journey to get there is really tough, but it's fun.
I think it's the essence of why I enjoy skiing. I thought it would be good to be able to enjoy it even if it was hard.

ーーYou're kind of philosophical. What is the position of the competition?

I think the feeling when I stand at the start is special.
I want to show the coaches watching me the best skates. I really want to show that I've come this far with my coach, and I've learned so much, and I've come to be able to do it. Of course, I want to show my family and friends who are watching me through the media a good run, and I want to do a good run for my rivals. I think, but what I really think about standing on the starting platform is that I want to show my best run especially to the coaches below me.

ーーWhy is that?

I am who I am today because my coach has seen everything, including the parts I couldn't do well and the parts I did well. So I want to show my coach that I did my best again this time and that I can skate this well. I want people around me to know that I have coaches who have brought me up to this point.

―Heh~ (surprise and admiration). By the way, is that a habit you've had since you started competing?

I don't think so. From around the end of the 21st season, that feeling became stronger. During the Olympic season, I was skating with the mentality of “I want to show my coach, I want to show my coach”.

ーーIs it a feeling of gratitude to the existence that always watches over you, warmly supports you even when it's hard, and overcomes it together with you?

That's right, in an interview right after the Beijing match, I said, "I'm sorry."
However, I received a lot of messages from people around me saying, "You don't have to feel sorry for me like that." It's a word that came out unconsciously to all the people who supported me and allowed me to participate in this not-so-famous sport called moguls.

I couldn't meet my expectations because I couldn't get a medal, and I felt really sorry for the people who supported me.
Looking back on it later, I realize that everyone cheered for me not just because they expected to win a medal, but because they wanted to see me doing my best on the world stage. I know what you mean. I was overflowing with gratitude, and I naturally expressed my apologies for not being able to settle down.

- That's a really nice story.