The Japan Mogul Team, said to be "undoubtedly the strongest in history," is taking on the Beijing Olympics. What kind of skiing will they show on the Olympic stage? Let's introduce the Japanese men's and women's mogul skiers, who are considered very likely to win gold medals. Also, check out the 2021-2022 World Cup competition footage, which will give us a glimpse into the Olympic battle!
Kawamura
Anri
A 17-year-old high school student from Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture. In 2019, as a third-year junior high school student, she made her debut at the World Cup, immediately placing second on the podium, breaking Aiko Uemura's previous record as the youngest skater to do so. Her strengths lie in the exceptional sharpness, accuracy, and stability of her turns, which she has cultivated since childhood. In the 2021-22 season, she won three of the seven World Cup races. She is currently on a roll, and her momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Expectations are high for a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics
☟By the way, this is Anri Kawamura's Instagram account. It's a comment she made regarding the selection of Japan's representatives for the Beijing Olympics.
@anrikawamura
■ Profile
| date of birth | October 15, 2004 |
| Birthplace | Higashikurume City, Tokyo |
| Affiliation | Nippon Sport Science University Ouka High School |
| Major battles in recent years | '19 World Cup Championships Moguls 2nd place '20 All Japan Championships Moguls winner '20-21 season World Cup Moguls 2nd place twice '21 World Junior Championships Moguls winner '21 World Championships representative '21-22 World Cup Idre Moguls winner / Tremblant Moguls winner / Deer Valley Moguls winner |
| Gear used | Skis: ID one ski boots: |
| @anrikawamura |
■ Kawamura Anri - Skiing video
Here is the run that secured his third victory at the 2021-22 World Cup USA Deer Valley competition, held just before the Beijing Olympics
■ Comments from the "Online Press Conference to Determine Representatives" just before the Beijing Olympics
With the Beijing Olympics just around the corner, the All Japan Ski Association held an online press conference to determine the Japanese representatives. We present an excerpt from a video of Anri Kawamura's comments. "Q" is a question from a journalist
January 23rd (Sun) 19:00-19:30 From the online press conference to decide the representatives
Q. What are your honest feelings now that you've been selected as a representative player?
— I'm happy. Right now, I'm more excited than nervous. It's a course I've never been on before, so I'm really looking forward to it.
Q. What did the Olympics mean to you?
— Ever since I started moguls skiing, I've always admired the Olympics, and since it's a competition that only happens once every four years, it was something I really longed for.
Q. You've achieved good results in the World Cup this season. How confident are you?
— I've been able to ski quite well this season, so I'm confident that I can run similarly at the Olympics.
Q. Are there any areas where you feel you have grown even more?
— Not only my skating technique, but I think my mental preparation for competitions has improved significantly since the start of this season in preparation for the Olympics.
Q. Are there any specific routines you incorporate in terms of mental preparation?
— Not really, but before a competition, I try not to get too nervous or overthink things right up until I start skating. I concentrate when I'm skating, but until then I try to stay relaxed.
Q. What are your methods for relaxing?
— I think it's small things like not thinking too much about skiing, or lying down on the starting block and taking deep breaths before a race, but these things help me relax.
Q. What are your aspirations and goals for the dream stage?
— I want to put everything I have into my skating and win the gold medal.
Q. You've had a remarkable season with a series of fantastic runs. How do you feel when you're skiing now?
— Right now, I'm confident in my skiing, and when it comes to competitions, I just trust in my own skiing. When I'm skiing, I feel like everything from my body to my skis is moving exactly as I want it to, and I feel like I can control every single run.
Q. Is that a feeling you've never experienced before?
— Up until now, I would get so nervous that my legs would freeze up, but this season I haven't had that problem and I feel like I'm able to do it.
Q. I believe you ski at Kandatsu in Yuzawa, Japan. Could you share some memories there?
— I started mogul skiing in Yuzawa, and I grew up there, so I still have old mogul skiing friends and coaches there. It really feels like home. I learned so much about the fundamentals of mogul skiing, including the techniques for absorbing new skills and the parts that are difficult to correct later on. That has had a very positive impact on my skiing today, and I think I've been able to cultivate something that will stay with me.
Q. You mentioned that Coach Janne always told you that position is the most important thing when it comes to carving turns. Specifically, how did you change your position to improve your turns?
— Before, I often had a backward-leaning position where I was leaning a little too far back on the board. But now, to achieve the turns I'm aiming for, I'm trying to ski with my weight properly centered on the board, slightly towards the front, and making sure my hips don't drop too far back.
Q. When I think of carving turns, I think of Aiko Uemura. Did you ever look up to her or do you have any desire to surpass her?
— Ever since I was little and started mogul skiing, Aiko has always been my idol, so I do have a sense of admiration for her.
Q. How do you analyze the reason why you're scoring so high on your turns?
— I think it's mainly because my turns are stable. I have a decent amount of speed, and I don't lose control too much, so I think that's the strength of my turns. I've been skiing on various courses since I was little, with my parents, so I think that's why I can adapt to different places now and make the same stable turns.
Q. What do you imagine you'd be feeling when you stand on the starting block at the Olympics?
— I think I wouldn't be too nervous, and I'd be enjoying being on the Olympic stage.
Q. What aspect of your performance would you especially like people to see at the Olympics?
— I'd like them to see how I attack my turns and how I approach my skiing with confidence and determination.
Q. In terms of how you've grown, how do you manage to control your emotions and not get nervous?
— I think that practicing the parts I'm unsure about during official training before a competition, checking the course and making adjustments, and building confidence are the keys to skating without getting nervous.