Before the Beijing Olympics, which will start next month, five athletes who have been nominated for the Japan national team of Ski Nordic Combined will meet online, and ace Akito Watabe said, "I want to do my best toward the gold medal." talked.
There are five representatives from Japan for the Beijing Olympics and Nordic Combined, including Akito Watabe, who won the silver medal for the second consecutive Olympic Games and participated in the fifth consecutive Games, and Ryota Yamamoto, who finished third in the World Cup this season. ..
The players met online from Austria, where they are staying to compete in the World Cup.
Of these, Watanabe said about the Beijing tournament, which will be his fifth consecutive appearance, "I think I'm old. I think I've been able to play five times, and I remember that I've met so many people and supported me. I always had a strong desire to win a gold medal, and I would like to do my best toward that. "
Regarding acting as the flag bearer of the Japanese team, "I am honored to be entrusted with such a big role. I think that no one can enter with the Japanese flag, and the feeling of representing Japan is strengthened. I think it makes sense for me to be entrusted with this. "
In addition, Yamamoto, who is expected to compete for medals for the first time, said, "I am relieved to receive a job offer. The most important goal in my competitive life is the Olympic gold medal, so I want to challenge for that." rice field.
The Nordic Combined will be held in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, adjacent to Beijing, with a personal normal hill on the 9th and a private large hill on the 15th next month.