In December 1988, a 16-year-old Noriaki Kasai made his debut in the World Cup on his home turf in Sapporo. 35 years and two months later, he will again jump in the World Cup in the same city. – I’m in great shape, as I always tend to be at this time of year! This is what the super veteran wrote in an e-mail to news, apparently full of self-confidence before the comeback in the World Cup. In Sapporo in January, Kasai was the best Japanese in two of three COC races, which is the level below the World Cup. Kasai also won a national competition the following weekend. Thus, he is part of the national quota the Japanese get to play in the World Cup on home soil. – I don’t care about age at all, he has nothing to say, he writes. COMEBACK: Noriaki Kasai impressed in several COC races in Sapporo in January. Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP news’s jumping expert Kasai had already been jumping for 20 years in the World Cup when news’s jumping expert Johan Remen Evensen himself made his debut in 2008. The Norwegian has long since given up, and can hardly believe it is true when he hears that Kasai again will jump with the best in the world. – It’s absolutely incredible, but it also shows how insanely good this guy has been and is. If he manages to get back and deliver like he did in Japan recently, then it’s just terribly impressive, says the jumping expert. IMPRESSED: news’s jumping expert Johan Remen Evensen gapes at the comeback of the Japanese. Photo: NTB – But doesn’t it say something about the level that a 51-year-old can make a comeback in the World Cup? – Yes, but it also says something about how ski jumping has developed in the last 10-15 years. The technical design and equipment have become more important, says Remen Evensen and continued: – Physical requirements are still important, but now it is much more about dynamics and maintaining speed and flight characteristics. And there, Noriaki Kasai has been among the very, very best for many years. Noriaki Kasai’s career Made his World Cup debut aged 16 on 17 December 1988 in Sapporo. Has 17 individual victories in the World Cup. The first came in the ski flying WC in Harrachov in 1992 – which at the time also counted in the world cup. Became history’s oldest winner in the world cup in Finnish Kuusamo on 29 November 2014. Kasai was 42 years old. On 4 March 2016, Kasai became the oldest on a World Cup podium at the age of 43 years and 272 days. Has the most individual participations in the World Cup with 569 competitions. Took silver in the team competition during the Lillehammer Olympics in 1994. Individual silver in the big hill during the Olympics in Sochi in 2014. Also took bronze in the team competition during the same Olympics. Became the oldest individual medal winner (41 years and 256 days). Took bronze in normal hill and large hill during the WC in Val di Fiemme in 2003. Has two silver and two bronze medals for teams in the WC. Also has bronze from the mixed competition during the WC in Falun 2015. Kasai participated in his eighth Olympics during the Winter Olympics in 2018. That is the most in the world. – In a completely different form, Kasai has been quite far from top form in recent years, and there are many who have doubted whether he would be able to come back. Among others his trainer, Slovenian Matjaz Zupan. – When I saw his condition last season, I didn’t think he could come back at this level, Zupan says to news and adds: – Now he is in a completely different physical shape. He trains better and he has a body weight that allows him to compete at this level again. DUO: Noriaki Kasai and trainer Matjaz Zupan. Photo: Tsocheya Home Zupan is the coach of the private team Tsocheya Home, of which Kasai is a part. He explains that the level of Japanese show jumping is not at its peak right now, and that it is one of the reasons why Kasai gets the chance in the World Cup. Ryoyu Kobayashi is at the top of the world, but behind him it has been thin this season. – Kasai is at a much higher level this year than last year. But what that means in the World Cup is difficult to say. On big slopes, he can take World Cup points, says Zupan. IN NORWAY: Noriaki Kasai celebrates after he came second in the World Cup race in Holmenkollen in March 2015. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB The goal is the Olympics in 2026 Should Kasai be among the top five Japanese in the competitions in Sapporo this weekend, there is a high chance of that he can take part in several World Cup competitions in the future. In less than a month, it will be ready for RawAir with competitions in Holmenkollen, Granåsen and Vikersund. – I would be so happy if I could fly in Holmenkollen and Vikersund again, two of my favorite slopes, writes Kasai. FLY: Few have more ski jumps on board than Noriaki Kasai. Here in the ski flying slope in Planica. Photo: AFP But the jumping hero is not content with making a comeback in the World Cup. He has set himself the goal of taking part in the Olympics in Milan/Cortina in 2026. In that case, it will be his ninth Olympics at the age of 53. – It would be absolutely incredible if I could participate in the Olympics in 2026. Then I will be remembered both in Japan and the rest of the world, he writes. Kasai already reached a milestone at the Olympics in Sochi 10 years ago, when he became the oldest medal winner in history in ski jumping at an Olympics. There he won both silver and bronze. And perhaps there are even more chapters in the story of Noriaki Kasai. OLYMPIC HERO: Noriaki Kasai took silver in the big hill at the Olympics in Sochi in 2014. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB
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news expert face pair of jumping hero – makes a comeback 35 years after debut – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
