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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Limb deficiency
Origin of Impairment
Congenital
Classification
LW5/7
Further personal information
Occupation
Student
Languages
Japanese
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up the sport at age six in Toyama, Japan.
Why this sport?
He was encouraged by his cousin, and was inspired to take up the sport after Japanese Para cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta won gold medals at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. "When I watched Nitta winning gold in Vancouver my first thought was I might want to try cross-country skiing."
Club / Team
Nihon University [JPN] / Hitachi Solutions [JPN]:
Name of coach
Kazutoshi Nagahama [Hitachi Solutions, national], JPN
International debut
Year
2017
Competing for
Japan
Tournament
World Cup
Location
Pyeongchang, KOR
General interest
Memorable sporting achievement
Winning bronze and gold medals at the 2019 World Championships in Prince George, BC, Canada. (paralympic.org, 12 Mar 2019)
Most influential person in career
Japanese Para cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"I will try my best." (bgf.or.jp, 08 Aug 2018)
Awards and honours
In 2019 he was given an Excellence Award at the Japan Para Sports Awards. (info.yomiuri.co.jp, 07 Dec 2019)
Ambitions
To win gold at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. (paralympic.org, 12 Mar 2019)
Impairment
He was born with missing digits on his hands and feet, which includes three missing toes on his left foot and two missing toes on his right foot. (parasapo.tokyo, 06 Jun 2019)
Other information
FROM HERO TO IDOL
He was inspired to take up cross-country skiing when he was age nine, after watching Japanese Para cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta win gold medals at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. After winning two medals at the 2019 World Championships in Prince George, BC, Canada, where he beat Nitta, he said his former hero had now become a rival. "When I [first] joined the [national] team, he [Nitta] was so fast. He was really an idol to me. Now I feel he is more like a rival. I want to beat him, I want to compete against him. I don't think about [being with my idol] anymore. It is really cool now but, at the same time, there is pressure coming for being acknowledged [among the best cross-country skiers in the world]. I have to get used to it and be able to give my best shot at all times. I still need to improve in the middle of the races, my body tends to slow down. I have difficulties in moving as it not as easy during the middle part of the race. So I want to gain more strength and stamina to get over that, and I want do develop my body." (paralympic.org, 12 Mar 2019)
He was inspired to take up cross-country skiing when he was age nine, after watching Japanese Para cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta win gold medals at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver. After winning two medals at the 2019 World Championships in Prince George, BC, Canada, where he beat Nitta, he said his former hero had now become a rival. "When I [first] joined the [national] team, he [Nitta] was so fast. He was really an idol to me. Now I feel he is more like a rival. I want to beat him, I want to compete against him. I don't think about [being with my idol] anymore. It is really cool now but, at the same time, there is pressure coming for being acknowledged [among the best cross-country skiers in the world]. I have to get used to it and be able to give my best shot at all times. I still need to improve in the middle of the races, my body tends to slow down. I have difficulties in moving as it not as easy during the middle part of the race. So I want to gain more strength and stamina to get over that, and I want do develop my body." (paralympic.org, 12 Mar 2019)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 20km Free Standing | Final | 2018-03-12 | 9 | |
| Men's 1.5km Sprint Classic Standing | Final | 2018-03-14 | 9 | |
| Men's 10km Classic Standing | Final | 2018-03-17 | 10 | |
| 4x2.5km Mixed Relay | Final | 2018-03-18 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Middle Distance - Free Style Standing | Final | 2019-02-17 | 4 | |
| Men's Sprint - Free Style Standing | Final | 2019-02-18 | 3 | |
| Mixed Relay | Final | 2019-02-23 | 4 | |
| Men's Long Distance - Classic Standing | Final | 2019-02-24 | 1 |