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
Furuno
Satoshi
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 personal Instagram account. He posted about his joy and determination after being selected for the Beijing Olympics.
@satoshi_furuno
■ Profile
| date of birth | Born June 11, 1999 |
| Birthplace | Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture |
| Affiliation | USEN-NEXTGROUPSC |
| Major battles in recent years | '19 FIS Junior Championship Winner, '20 North American Championship 5th and 7th place, '21 World Championship Participant |
| Gear used | 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
■ 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. 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 qualified for the Olympics?
— I'm incredibly happy to be able to stand on the Olympic stage, which has been my dream since I was a child.
Q. Your older brother, who you've been competing alongside, unfortunately won't be able to participate this time. I imagine you'll be carrying his hopes with you as you compete in the Olympics. What are your thoughts on that?
— Well, ideally, it would have been best if both brothers could have competed together. But we've been training together since we were little, including cycling, and I feel like I've grown this far thanks in part to my brother, so I want to do my best to achieve a good result for him as well.
Q. What kind of image do you want to show to everyone across Japan?
— For those who have known me for a long time, I would like to show them how much I have grown and become bigger on the big stage of the Olympics, despite my small stature. I also think there will be many people who are getting to know ski cross and me for the first time this time, so for them, I would like to ski in a way that will let them get to know a little bit about the appeal of ski cross and me, and that they will think I'm cool.
Q. What are your specific goals for these Olympics?
— My primary goal is to win a medal, but that's not all. I'm also looking ahead to four years from now, and I don't want to get too caught up in the results. I want to use everything as an experience and turn it into something positive. That's the kind of competition I want to have.
Q. We understand that you have been skiing since you were little in Nagaoka City. Looking back on your elementary school days, when you trained in alpine skiing and started ski cross in the fourth grade, how do you think those experiences are helping you now?
— When I was in elementary school, I did alpine skiing and also BMX cycling. I was given the opportunity to try various disciplines, and I think ski cross is a combination of BMX and alpine skiing, so I think that having the experience to try various disciplines when I was in elementary school has led to me being able 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 participate in alpine skiing and ski jumping?
— Niigata Prefecture has many ski resorts and a good environment for alpine skiing, but there are no proper permanent ski cross courses yet, so I would like to work towards creating a ski cross course in Niigata Prefecture in the future. To that end, I would like to start by skiing in a way that makes people think that ski cross is cool.