The head of Team Japan for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games has praised the group. It captured 24 medals — the country’s best-ever tally at any Winter Games.
Team Japan won five gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals in the 17-day event. It won six more medals than the previous record set at the Beijing Olympics.
In a news conference attended by 15 medalists in Tokyo on Tuesday, Team Japan head Ito Hidehito said the team was the greatest in the country’s history and had won a record number of medals. He also thanked the Japanese people for their support.
Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi became the first Japanese pair to capture a gold medal in pairs figure skating.
Miura said they made a major error in the short program, but did not lose their confidence. She said it’s been a while since she was last in Japan, so she wants to enjoy plenty of Japanese food.
Kihara said there were moments during the Games when he struggled emotionally, but he was able to see it through to the end thanks to the support of many people. He added that they hope to take some time off for themselves after the competition, and that he would like to travel across the United States in a camper van.
Skier Horishima Ikuma won two medals — a silver and a bronze — in the men’s mogul events. He said the silver was an improvement on his performance at the previous Games, but he hopes to win gold at the next Olympics.
Team Japan will officially disband at a ceremony on Wednesday.
AloJapan.com