Yamato Aoki, who made his first appearance in the Beijing Paralympics in the Alpine Skiing Giant Slalom on the 10th, has only two years of competition history.

The 28-year-old, who has bright red hair when he takes off his helmet, oozes a sense of fulfillment on the dream stage that he gained by making use of the experience he gained through "two-legged straw shoes" with the owner. rice field.

The competition started only two years ago

At the age of 20, Aoki, who was in junior high school, high school and the ski club, fell down the stairs and suffered a serious injury that injured his spinal cord, leaving his legs injured.



"It was pitch black in front of me, and I was in despair."



At first, my feelings were depressed, but with the encouragement of my family and friends, I gradually became more positive, and two years ago, I was invited by a junior in the high school ski club. I started para alpine skiing.

Aoki, who has returned to the snow again, is aiming for Hiraku Misawa, who is a representative of Japan and has participated in five consecutive Paralympic Games (the photo on the right is Misawa).


At the age of six, he amputated his left foot and was inspired by the slip of Misawa, who fights in the world with only his right foot, and decided to aim for the Paralympic stage, saying, "I want to try skiing again and pursue the possibilities." rice field.

"Dual wield" with the management

Aoki also has another face as a company manager.


He started his business at the age of 19 and now runs a company that deals with sharing services for electric kickboards.


He says he woke up at 3 am to have a meeting and then went to practice during a time zone overseas expedition.



"It was difficult because I didn't have time, but it was encouraging that the members of the company supported me. The strong heart that has overcome many difficulties while running the company is still alive in the competition." He talked about the merits of "foot straw".



This year, I left a result at the domestic competition in February, and in just two years after starting the competition, I got the last frame of the Alpine skiing representative from Japan in the Beijing competition, which I thought was "difficult".

“To great confidence”

Two weeks after entering Beijing, Aoki took part in the long-awaited race with his bright red hair, "Imagine the Hinomaru," on the 10th.

However, the first time he couldn't make an aggressive slip and was 31st.


It was pointed out by the respected player Misawa that "it is not a Yamato-like slip".

The second time I regained my feelings, I shortened the time by 3 seconds or more with the small turns that I had had since high school, and while a total of 8 people abstained on the way, both times I slipped to the 30th place.

Aoki said, "It was a lot of fun. I was very confident that I was able to skate the race on the ground in Beijing."

Four years later, the podium in Italy

Aoki who stood on the stage of the Beijing Paralympics, "I didn't expect to be able to come out."

We are aiming for a podium at the Milan Cortina d'Ampezzo tournament four years later.



Kuniko Obinata, the team leader of the Japan national team for alpine skiing, who has won two gold medals in the past, also evaluated her aspirations, saying, "I have a strong desire to grow and I am greedy." I want you to gain an experience that can only be experienced here. "



Aoki, who has climbed up to this point in just two years of competition history, will start on the 13th, aiming for further heights, and will face the final event of this tournament, his specialty.