Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.534

The Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics has started-I love to see fugure skate, Ichiro loves to see ice hockey. Neither of us were not so interested in other sports, but in this Olympic games, we cannot have our eyes off from two very young Japanese atheletes, they are said to be the closest to the medals.

Sara Takanashi(ski jump) she was born in 1996. She started ski jump when she was only 8 years old. She is only 17 years old. She worn World Cup Championship in the beginning of this February, she won the Championship last year also. She is only 152cm(a little less than 5 feet). She is from a small village from Hokkaido. Her father was a ski jumper, so she naturally became to like ski jump. They say, being tall has more advantageous because of wind friction, but by keeping low at the start, she overcame the problem.

She is also known as a hard worker with study. Only by four months study, she passed the test for the test for university entrance qualification examination. She is a tiny girl but she has this guts and jumps like a bird!

[公式] 平野歩夢 THE STORY OF AYUMU HIRANO - YouTube

Another athelete is Ayumu Hirano(Half-pipe). He is only 15 years old.

His parents named him Ayumi- ayu means to walk, and mu mean dream. He has got his sponsor when he was only fourth grade in elementary school. Last year, at Winter X Games, he won the second place. He was only 14 years old, he was only 5'3" . He became the medalist of the youngest ever.

Half Pipe was included as an official Olympic event from 1988. Ayumu was said to be a biggest challenger for the gold medalistm Shawn White. 

Ayumu seems to have no fear for the height- he flies so high up in the air and and shows the perfect turn. His motion on the ground and in the air are both so natural and look free like a bird. 

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The both young atheletes seem to enjoy beinig in the air!  They both are like new humans for us, but they both are hardworkers. Their perfomance were achieved by the practice they have been doing. Ayumu was telling in his interview, that it was his dream to go to Olympics and it could be nice if he could become inspiration to others. He is so young but already achieving his dream one by one. He wishes to give dreams to others.

I think many Japanese will be watching them, and cannot help cheering them up.