BSP-09 Japan ski jump legend Kasai eyes Beijing Olympics, at 49

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Japan ski jump legend Kasai eyes Beijing Olympics, at 49

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea, Feb 20, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Japan ski jump legend
Noriaki Kasai, who appeared in a record eighth Winter Olympics in
Pyeongchang, has promised to compete and win a medal at Beijing 2022 — at
the age of 49.

A defiant Kasai insisted he had no plans to quit the daredevil sport after
a hugely disappointing Games, where he never threatened to contend for a
medal.

The 45-year-old flickered briefly in Monday’s team competition with jumps
of 124 and 125 metres but Japan finished well back of winners Norway in
sixth.

“It was nice to be able to set a record of eight appearances,” Kasai told
reporters.

“I’m not saying I want to be there, I’m saying I definitely will compete
in Beijing. I was able to jump in front of my family here, next time I will
win a medal in front of them.”

The mild-mannered Kasai, who made his Olympic debut at Albertville back in
1992, collected a team silver at Lillehammer in 1994.

Astonishingly, after reaching his forties, Kasai bagged large hill silver
and team bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games, making him the sport’s oldest
Olympic medallist.

“I’m upset at not getting a medal,” he said after his Pyeongchang flop.
“But I can take a lot away from these Games.

“It’s also given me that incentive to make sure I medal in Beijing four
years from now,” added Kasai, who hails from Japan’s snow-swept northern
island of Hokkaido.

“I only showed roughly half of what I’m capable of. The other half I will
show in four years.”

Kasai is something of a cult hero in countries which embrace a sport where
hardy competitors launch themselves off the side of a mountain and fly the
length of a football field at 60mph (90kph).

MORE/MR/ 1110 hrs

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In ski jump-obsessed Finland, Helsinki punk band Van Dammes recorded a
tribute single called “Mr Noriaki Kasai” in 2014, while Polish rapper Koldi
has also penned a song about the Japanese veteran.

Kasai, Japan’s flag-bearer at the Games in South Korea, displayed some
rare emotion during the large hill competition, where he failed to advance to
the final round.

Trudging away from the landing zone swearing to himself, Kasai blanked
scores of Japanese media braving sub-zero temperatures, fuming: “Son of a
bitch!”

Germany’s Andreas Wellinger won the normal hill in Pyeongchang before
Poland’s Kamil Stoch retained his Olympic large hill crown.

Kasai, who has 17 individual World Cup victories to his name, promised to
return stronger in Beijing.

“I’ll be back for sure,” said Kasai. “I can still jump farther. I would
like to aim for 10 Olympic Games eventually. I’m not done yet.”

BSS/AFP/MR/ 1110 hrs