The 12th Workshop

23 July, 2015
"On the frontline of the Paralympic Games - learning from medalists in the 5 competitions since Nagano"

In the mid-1990s, when I was coaching skiing while working in public office, I was approached to be coach for the para-ski team for the Nagano Paralympic Games, and fumbling to find my footing began to train the skiers. At the time, disability sports were regarded as part of social welfare rather than sports, so it was a start from a difficult situation with low awareness and a tight budget.

In 1995, I discovered a Nordic skier who was a junior high school student at the time and worked closely with him to improve his skill. Now he is famous as someone with particularly great form even among the world's top athletes.

There were also sit-skiers who didn't like snow until they started competing, but once they did they couldn't wait until the snow started to fall. Witnessing these individuals, I feel I want to bring even just one more person with a disability closer to sports.

Currently, I am a Head Coach for a corporate ski team, and corporate support has greatly improved equipment development and training methods. As an example, at the 2014 Sochi Games, while non-Russian athletes were not permitted to enter the venue in advance, we reproduced the venue's course using a simulator in cooperation with a university, and used it to strengthen our performance.

We are not just training athletes to win medals. I try to facilitate interaction with local children during training camps, and the reason I do that is because I think that what is important is precisely that creation of a relationship in which Paralympians give courage to children and also receive courage from them.