Yukio Kasaya, who made history by winning Asia¡¯s first-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in 1972, died from heart disease on Tuesday morning at a hospital in Sapporo. He was 80 years old.
His family held a private funeral service, and a public farewell ceremony will be held later at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo, one of the venues where the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics was held.
Kasaya¡¯s victory at the Sapporo Games was a landmark moment for Japan. Competing in the ski jumping event on home soil, he captured gold, thrilling the tens of thousands in attendance and millions of Japanese watching on TV at home.
He led a historic podium sweep for Japan and was joined by Akitsugu Konno, who took silver, and Seiji Aochi, who earned bronze.
The trio became known as the Hinomaru Hikotai (Rising Sun Squadron) and ushered in a new era of enthusiasm for winter sports in Japan.
Kasaya, a native of Hokkaido, took part in four consecutive Winter Games, starting with the 1964 Innsbruck Olympics.
After retiring from competition following the 1976 Innsbruck Games, Kasaya remained deeply involved in the ski jumping community. He served as the ski jumping for the All Japan Ski Federation, focusing on developing young athletes, and later became the organization¡¯s executive director and head of competition.
Following the resounding victory in Sapporo, Japan achieved notable success in ski jumping after a brief lull, winning a silver medal in the team large hill at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and a gold in the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Kasaya¡¯s influence extended beyond coaching. He held various leadership roles within the Japanese Olympic Committee, including serving as a board member and deputy director of the athletes¡¯ training headquarters. He was also the deputy leader of Japan¡¯s delegation to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Yukio Kasaya¡¯s achievements in ski jumping and his significant role in shaping winter sports left an indelible mark on the nation¡¯s athletic heritage, leading him to be honored as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2018.
¡°Kasaya laid the foundation for the success of many athletes who have gone on to the present day,¡± Japanese Olympic Committee Vice President Yuko Mitsuya said in a statement.
¡°We extend our heartfelt condolences and pray that he may rest in peace.¡±
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