{"id":25644,"date":"2022-03-09T13:29:01","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T04:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/athletic\/?p=25644"},"modified":"2022-03-09T13:41:16","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T04:41:16","slug":"%e3%80%90%e3%83%9e%e3%83%8b%e3%83%a5%e3%82%a2%e3%83%ab%e3%80%91%e3%80%8c%e8%a9%a6%e5%90%88%e7%b5%90%e6%9e%9c%e3%83%bb%e3%83%ac%e3%83%93%e3%83%a5%e3%83%bc%e3%80%8d%e3%83%95%e3%82%a9%e3%83%bc-31-44-5-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/athletic\/news-en\/2022\/03\/09\/25644\/","title":{"rendered":"Olympic Legend Akito Watabe: \u201cIt\u2019s thanks to the support of many that I\u2019ve come this far.\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Akito Watabesmiling with the Japan national flag after winning the bronze medal in the Nordic combined individual large hill (Kyodo Ne<\/p><\/div>\n

Beijing Olympics 2022, Feb. 15, 20<\/h5>\n

Competing in his Fifth Consecutive Olympics, Watabe Becomes First Ever to Win Medals in 3rd Consecutive Olympic Event<\/h2>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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Akito Watabe (center) finishingthird, alongside gold medalist Joergen Graabak (right) and silver medalist Jens Luraas Oftebro (left) (Kyodo Ne<\/p><\/div>\n

After reaching the finish line, Akito Watabe thanked his supporters: \u201cIn 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\u2019m not able to show off a gold medal, I\u2019m incredibly happy if people were able to enjoy and appreciate the combined race event.\u201dWatabe 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. \u201cHonestly, 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,\u201d he said. Nevertheless, the 33-year-old veteran was able to demonstrate his prowess and leave behind a landmark achievement.<\/p>\n

Skiing Club Member Yachi: I could feel Akito\u2019s conviction. It moved me.<\/h3>\n
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Akito Watabe(front center) celebrating with team personnel after winning the bronze medal in the men\u2019s individual large hill competition, alongside the jubilant Yachi (second from front right) (Kyodo News)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2019s conviction. Yachi, who was not selected to compete in the large hill event, said, \u201cI cried my heart out. I could feel Akito\u2019s conviction. I was electrified and moved. He was so cool.\u201d Looking towards the team event on the 17, he said, \u201cNext is my turn.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u6681\u6597\u3055\u3093\u304a\u3081\u3067\u3068\u3046\u3054\u3056\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002@WTBAKT<\/a>
\u8d85\u6ce3\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n

\u6681\u6597\u3055\u3093\u306e\u54f2\u5b66\u3092\u611f\u3058\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n

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\u5fc3\u304c\u9707\u3048\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002<\/p>\n

\u30ab\u30c3\u30b3\u3088\u304b\u3063\u305f\u3067\u3059\u3002<\/p>\n

\u6b21\u306f\u56e3\u4f53\u6226\u3002\u65e5\u672c\u30c1\u30fc\u30e0\u3068\u3057\u3066\u52dd\u3061\u306b\u884c\u304f\u2757\ufe0f<\/p>\n

\u6b21\u306f\u4ffa\u306e\u756a\u3060\u203c\ufe0f#\u30ce\u30eb\u30c7\u30a3\u30c3\u30af\u8907\u5408<\/a> #TEAMJAPAN<\/a><\/p>\n

— \u8c37\u5730\u5b99\/ Sora Yachi (@sora_yachi) February 15, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n