The Beijing Olympics kicked off on February 4, 2022, with heated competition unfolding every day. While Japan's men's team was unable to compete in the past two Olympics, two Japanese athletes have qualified for the Beijing Olympics. Their dynamic performances have been the talk of the town, especially in ski cross. Let's take a look at Satoshi Furuno, a rising star who has qualified to compete in his first Olympic Games, and who has been the subject of much discussion as to what kind of athlete he is
Satoshi Furuno
Originally from Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, he has been seriously involved in BMX in the summer and alpine skiing in the winter since he was in the first grade of elementary school. In BMX, he became the All-Japan champion for his age group while still in elementary school, and competed in the World Championships, finishing in 7th place. At the same time, he discovered ski cross in the fourth grade of elementary school and became passionate about it. From his first year of high school, he began competing in FIS overseas races. With his naturally high physical ability and the skiing techniques he honed in alpine competitions, he also excelled in ski cross. From his second year of high school, he joined the national team
He then went on to study law at Keio University, where he was active while enrolled in the ski club, but joined USEN-NEXT HOLDINGS in the fall of 2021. With the company's support and a better environment, he was able to build up results and secure a ticket to the Beijing Olympics, something he had been aiming for since childhood. Furuno has an older brother who is two years older than him, and he also competed in overseas races as a ski cross athlete, but his brother did not make it to the national team. He is determined to do his best in his brother's place on the Beijing stage
☟By the way, this is Satoshi Furuno's Instagram. He posted his joy and determination after being selected as a representative for the Beijing Olympics.
@satoshi_furuno
■ Profile
| Date of birth | Born June 11, 1999 |
| where one is from | Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Affiliation | USEN-NEXTGROUPSC |
| Major history in recent years | '19 FIS Junior Championships winner, '20 North American Championships 5th and 7th place, '21 World Championships participant |
| used gear | Skis: SALOMON Ski boots: SALOMON |
| @satoshi_furuno |
■ Kei Furuno - Skating video
Her skating performance, which earned her 16th place at the World Cup Arosa (FRA) competition held in December 2020 (from her Instagram)
This is a selfie video of the course taken at the World Cup Calgary (CAN) event in January of the 2021 season, posted on Facebook
■ Comment on the “online press conference to decide 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. Here are excerpts from Furuno Satoshi's comments. "Q" is a question from a journalist
January 31st (Mon) 12:00-13:00 From the online press conference to decide the representatives
Q. How do you feel now that you've decided to compete in the Olympics?
- I'm extremely happy to be able to stand on the Olympic stage, which has been my dream since I was a child.
Q. Unfortunately, your brother, who you competed alongside, will not be able to compete, but you are carrying his wishes with you as you compete in the Olympics. How do you feel about that?
- Well, it would have been best if both brothers could have competed together, but we have trained together since we were little, including in cycling, and I feel like I have grown so much thanks to my brother, so I would like to do my best to achieve good results for him.
Q. What kind of performance would you like to show to people all over Japan?
- For those who have known me for a long time, I would like to show them how I have grown as a small person and grown bigger on the big stage of the Olympics, and I think there will be many people who will get to know ski cross and me for the first time, so I would like to show them the appeal of ski cross and get to know me a little bit about myself, and to perform in a way that makes them think I'm cool.
Q. What are your specific goals for this Olympics?
My number one goal is to win a medal, but I also want to look ahead to four years from now and not get hung up on the results alone, but rather use everything as an experience to turn it into a positive experience.
Q. I understand that you have been skiing since you were a child in Nagaoka City. Looking back on your memories of elementary school, including
alpine skiing, which you began training in as an elementary school student, and ski cross, which you started in the fourth grade, how are those memories still useful to you today? - When I was in elementary school, I also did alpine skiing and BMX cycling. I was able to try out a variety of events, and I think ski cross is a combination of BMX and alpine skiing, so I think that being able to experience all those different events as an elementary school student is what has allowed me to compete on the world stage in ski cross today.
Q. What kind of performance would you like to see at the Olympics from the children in your hometown of Niigata who love and pursue alpine skiing and jumping?
- Niigata Prefecture has many ski resorts and an alpine environment, but there is no proper permanent ski cross course yet, so I would like to connect the dots so that a ski cross course can be built in Niigata Prefecture in the future. To do that, I would like to first ski in a way that makes people think that ski cross is cool.