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!
Sugimoto
Kosuke
At just 27 years old, he has secured his first Olympic ticket. He is the first from his hometown of Shizuoka Prefecture to compete in the Winter Olympics, and he has been making waves. This season, he has made consecutive appearances in the Super Finals at the World Cup, and came in third at the eighth round in the USA. He has also achieved his long-awaited first podium finish, and is currently in fourth place overall in the World Cup, rapidly climbing the rankings. He is on a roll and heading to Beijing with great momentum
☟By the way, this is an Instagram post from when he came in third place at the 8th World Cup race of the season (Park City/USA), making it his first time on the podium
■ Profile
| date of birth | Born December 2, 1994 |
| Birthplace | Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture |
| Affiliation | Daily is Hashiya |
| Major battles in recent years | '21-22 World Cup Park City Moguls 3rd place / Deer Valley Dual Moguls 4th place '21 World Championships Representative |
| Gear used | Skis: Vector Glide |
| @b1ackcoffee |
■ Kousuke Sugimoto- Skating Video
Running during the 2019-20 World Cup match against Japan (from his Instagram)
■ 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 Kosuke Sugimoto'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. How do you feel now that you've qualified for your first Olympic Games at the age of 27?
— I'm honestly very happy because it was a dream stage for me.
Q. What kind of image do you want to show?
— I hope to show the best version of myself to the people who have supported me.
Q. I think your family's move to Nagano when you were in the first year of junior high school has led you to where you are today. What are your thoughts on that?
— My parents were incredibly supportive of my desire to ski, and they created a great environment for me, which has allowed me to get this far. So, I think I've been able to do something to repay them by participating in the Olympics.
Q. This season, you seem to have consistently advanced to the Super Final and achieved good results. What do you think is the reason for that?
— I think the best thing was that I stuck to my own style of skiing from the first to the ninth World Cup event. I didn't fall or make any mistakes anywhere, and I was able to keep up with my good skiing, and I think the judges gave me good scores for that, which was a big factor.
Q. Could you tell us the reason for that, whether it's from your own experience or something that's really clicked with you this season?
— I've decided to take on a challenge in every competition, and taking on a challenge motivates me, it lifts my spirits, and I'm able to start with a good sense of tension, so I think that's why I've been able to keep up with good performances.
Q. What are your goals for the Beijing Olympics
? — I want to give my best performance and have the many people who are supporting me watch it. I hope they will look forward to it.
Q. You made your debut at the age of 27, which is considered a relatively late start. You missed out on Sochi at 19 and Pyeongchang at 23. Looking back, were there any times when you felt like giving up?
— There were times when I could have given up, but I was still in a position where I could aim for the stage I had been striving for, so I think my determination to keep going until the end was what allowed me to get this far.
Q. What was your biggest support?
— I was supported by the people around me, including my coaches, and when I didn't make the national team, many people helped me, which is why I am where I am today. But even amidst all that, I had one goal in mind: the Olympics, and I think the fact that I didn't waver from that and was able to get this far was a huge factor.
Q. You stood on the podium for the first time in the 8th World Cup event. How do you feel about your chances of winning a medal at this point?
— This season, I've been able to consistently finish in the top six, which is called the Super Final, and I'm currently in a good position in the season World Cup rankings, so I think if I can perform at my best, I'll have a chance to win a medal.
Q. Do you feel you're making good progress?
— Yes, I think if I can get all three things—turns, speed, and air—at a high level, I'll be able to break through and win a medal.
Q. How do you plan to use your experience of not being able to compete in Sochi and Pyeongchang to your advantage this time?
— This is my first time competing, for better or for worse, so I don't know what the Olympic venues are like or what the atmosphere is like. I hope to be able to enjoy myself and take on a challenge that will improve my skills, just like I have done in previous World Cups.
Q. You mentioned that sticking to your own style of skating has been beneficial, but what exactly is "your own style of skating"? Next, please tell us about the progress on your Cork 1080 and whether you think you can pull it off in the
competition. — In terms of my own style, there are quite a few skaters who are at a higher level than me in terms of turns, jumps, and speed, but I think that in terms of overall ability from start to finish, I can compete with the world, so I think that if I can achieve a high level in all three, I will be getting closer to my best style of skating. I have been practicing the Cork 1080 a lot since the first half of the season, and I would like to try it actively if I get the chance.