Akito Watabesmiling with the Japan national flag after winning the bronze medal in the Nordic combined individual large hill (Kyodo Ne
Beijing Olympics 2022, Feb. 15, 20
Competing in his Fifth Consecutive Olympics, Watabe Becomes First Ever to Win Medals in 3rd Consecutive Olympic Event
The Beijing Olympics marked the fifth Olympic competition for former member of the Waseda Skiing Club Akito Watabe (2011 alumnus of School of Sports Sciences), who cemented his legendary status when he became the first ever to winthree consecutive Olympic medals in the Nordic combined event.Watabe faced his most recent Olympic event after failing to reach the winners podium even once at the season’s World Cup. As with the normal hill event on Feb. 9, his jump performance during the large hill event fell short, jumping for 135 m during the ski jump in the first half of the event, which placed him in fifth place. However, during the cross-country race in the second half of the event (10 km), he sped ahead and led the pack. The top three were in a dead heat during the last stretch, and Watabe ended up placing third, clocking in a mere 0.6 seconds behind the first-place finisher.
Akito Watabe (center) finishingthird, alongside gold medalist Joergen Graabak (right) and silver medalist Jens Luraas Oftebro (left) (Kyodo Ne
After reaching the finish line, Akito Watabe thanked his supporters: “In my pursuit to win a gold medal, it was thanks to the many people who have cheered me on and encouraged me that I was able to come this far.I want to thank everyone; although I’m not able to show off a gold medal, I’m incredibly happy if people were able to enjoy and appreciate the combined race event.”Watabe participated in his first Olympic event at the 2006 Torino Olympics, where he placed 19th, while attending high Hakuba High School. While a student at Waseda, he competed in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, placing 21stin the normal hill, 9thin the large hill, and 6thin the team events. He subsequently competed at the 2014 Sochi Olympics,where he placed 2ndin the normal hill, 6thin the large hill, and 5thin the team events. In 2018, he competed at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, where he competed alongside his younger brother Yoshito Watabe (2014 alumnus of School of Sports Sciences) and placed 2ndin the normal hill, 5thin the large hill, and 4thin the team events. Watabe has claimed 19 total victories at the world cup (with 30 runner-up wins), but this season did not go in his favor. “Honestly, these last 4 years have been tough. There were many instances where I was unable to perform, and there were times when I doubted I could even come home with a medal. I did not have the same level of confidence I had when I competed in the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics. These four yearshave marked the toughest period for me,” he said. Nevertheless, the 33-year-old veteran was able to demonstrate his prowess and leave behind a landmark achievement.
Skiing Club Member Yachi: I could feel Akito’s conviction. It moved me.
Akito Watabe(front center) celebrating with team personnel after winning the bronze medal in the men’s individual large hill competition, alongside the jubilant Yachi (second from front right) (Kyodo News)
All five team members for this event are affiliated with the Waseda Skiing Club. Sora Yachi (third-year student at School of Sports Sciences), who competed admirably to place fifth in the normal hill jump event on Feb. 9, was moved by legend Akito Watabe’s conviction. Yachi, who was not selected to compete in the large hill event, said, “I cried my heart out. I could feel Akito’s conviction. I was electrified and moved. He was so cool.” Looking towards the team event on the 17, he said, “Next is my turn.”
暁斗さんおめでとうございます。@WTBAKT
超泣きました。暁斗さんの哲学を感じました。
痺れました。
心が震えました。
カッコよかったです。
次は団体戦。日本チームとして勝ちに行く❗️
次は俺の番だ‼️#ノルディック複合 #TEAMJAPAN
— 谷地宙/ Sora Yachi (@sora_yachi) February 15, 2022
Comment from Akito Watbe
“I am happy I was once again able to leave behind something tangible.”
Akito Watabe during the jump in the first half of the event (Kyodo News)
Truthfully, because I fell short of wining a gold model, despite being adamant that I would, and was unable to perform well in this season’s races and reach the winners podium, I was not fully confident in myself. However, today I had a good jump, and despite being a hard race in the blistering cold, I think I was able to give it my best; I thought I was close to getting the gold, but in the end,I fell slightly short today. I think it would have been easier if there had been a bit more of a push-and-pull dynamic in the race, but because there was no one around, I felt I had no choice but to just go; I think I was able to find a good pace to push myself. If I think about where I could have done better, it would probably have been those last few hundred meters. But really, I was going as fast as I could; I just couldn’t go any faster. In my pursuit to win a gold medal, it was thanks to the manypeople who have cheered me on and encouraged me that I was able to come this far. I want to thank everyone; although I’m not able to show off a gold medal, I’m incredibly happy if people were able to enjoy and appreciate the combined race event.
Honestly,these past four years have been tough. There were many instances where I was unable to perform, and there were times when I doubted I could even come home with a medal. I did not have the same level of confidence I had when I competed in the Sochi and Pyeongchang Olympics. These 4 years have marked the toughest period for meThe outcome is not exactly what I had hoped for, but I am happy I was once again able to leave behind something tangible. The Japan team has jumped well, so I think if we can push from a good positioning, an opportunity like today’s will come around. I hope we can jump well and come together as a team to win a medal at the team event.
English Translation: Joe Muntal
応援ありがとうございました💪🐼#teamjapan #olympics #beijing2022 #ノルディック複合 pic.twitter.com/GSAnNUZRGq
— Akito Watabe 渡部暁斗 (@WTBAKT) February 15, 2022
早大スキー部O・渡部暁斗（2011年卒）
北京五輪ノルディックスキー複合男子個人ラージヒル
銅メダル（五輪3大会連続のメダル獲得）#北京オリンピック #北京2022銅メダル獲得の渡部暁斗「一番厳しい4年間だった」道のりを振り返る（動画）https://t.co/ymPMiY0mex
— 早稲田大学競技スポーツセンター (@wasedau_sports) February 16, 2022
