Young rising stars and dominant snowboarders led the Team Japan charge at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games that concluded Feb. 22, shattering the Japanese record for the Winter Olympics with a historic 24 medals.
The haul of five gold, seven silver and 12 bronze medals not only eclipsed the previous high of 18 set in Beijing but also tied the nation’s all-time record for gold medals from the 1998 Nagano Games.
SNOWBOARDERS SOAR HIGH
A surge from the snowboarding team was the primary driver of the success, as members captured nine medals (four gold, two silver, three bronze)—a stunning threefold increase from their total at the Beijing Olympics.
Officials credit the leap to an enhanced training environment and the adoption of data-driven coaching.
As aerial tricks grow more complex, coaches have utilized pressure sensors to analyze individual athlete data, such as weight distribution on the soles of their feet, to provide precise feedback and corrections.
“In these four years, both coaches and athletes have been able to break away from relying on feel,” said Takashi Nishida, coach of the big air and slopestyle team. “By turning things into data, points for improvement have also become clear.”
FIGURE SKATING SHINES
Japan’s traditional strength in figure skating was also on full display, contributing a historic six medals to the total.
The pair of Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara, affectionately known as “Rikuryu,” captured a landmark gold medal in the pairs figure skating, becoming the first Japanese duo to ever reach the podium in the event.
YOUNG STARS EMERGE
A wave of young talent also made its mark.
In figure skating, 17-year-old Ami Nakai’s bronze made her the youngest medalist in the sport’s history for Japan.
On the slopes, 19-year-old Mari Fukada soared to victory in the women’s snowboard slopestyle, becoming the nation’s youngest-ever female gold medalist at a Winter Games.
SETBACKS AND STRUGGLES
Despite the record haul, some disciplines faced significant challenges.
In the Nordic combined, Japanese athletes missed the podium in both the individual and team events for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
In women’s curling, the hope for a third consecutive medal was dashed as Team Fortius finished a disappointing eighth with a 2-7 record.
The Japanese speed skating team’s reliance on its ace, Miho Takagi, was on full display as she single-handedly captured the nation’s three bronze medals.
This achievement brings her personal tally to 10 medals on the sport’s biggest international stage.
Original Source: This article was originally published on Asahi Sports. Click the link to view the full article.