Milan ¨C Sara Takanashi held back her tears. But when she saw her teammates¡¯ smiles, she couldn¡¯t contain her emotions.

At the Milano Cortina Olympics on Tuesday, Takanashi, 29, contributed to Japan¡¯s bronze medal in the ski jumping mixed team event.

The Olympic medal was Takanashi¡¯s first since winning individual bronze eight years ago at the Pyeongchang Games.

¡°This medal feels heavier,¡± Takanashi said. ¡°I feel the beauty of the Olympics far more than I did back in Pyeongchang.¡±

As the third jumper for Japan, she flew 96.5 meters in the first round and 97 in the second. Competing against top female jumpers from other nations, she placed third and fourth, respectively.

After finishing 13th in Saturday¡¯s individual normal hill event, she was informed by coach Yoshiki Kinjo, 31, that she had been selected for the mixed team event. However, she couldn¡¯t immediately accept it.

¡°Am I the right person?¡± Takanashi wondered.

The bitter memory from four years ago flashed in her mind.

In the mixed team event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she was the first jumper, but her jump was disqualified due to a suit regulation violation. The Japanese team finished fourth.

Everything went dark for Takanashi. She has no memory of her second jump, which she performed while sobbing.

After the competition, she posted an apology on social media. She contemplated retiring and spent days holed up at home.

Yet, she couldn¡¯t give up ski jumping. She received warm messages from fans and decided to try again.

After resting for about a month, Takanashi faced the decision of whether to compete in a World Cup competition. She hesitated until that morning, but decided to compete and won.

Hearing the Japanese national anthem on the podium at the time, she realized a new feeling within her.

¡°I believed quitting would be a way of taking responsibility, but maybe that was wrong,¡± she said.

She resolved to spend the next four years repaying those who had supported her.

After vowing not to run away, she stood on the mixed team stage again.

¡°If I can¡¯t show what I¡¯ve built up, my competitive life is over,¡± she thought.

With this resolve in her heart, she jumped with all her might.

At the Milano Cortina Games, which she considered her ¡°place of atonement,¡± Takanashi earned the medal she craved.

¡°I think I was at my worst back then, but now I feel like I could make a fresh start,¡± she said.