Alarm 97 days before the Olympics: Concerns about Noriaki Kasai's form and health

Japan’s veteran ski jumper Noriaki Kasai, now 53, has raised concerns about his chances of reaching a ninth Olympic Games. Speaking to the outlet Aktio Note, Kasai said he is working hard to hit top form but recognizes that qualifying for the Olympics will be very difficult.

Kasai is currently not a member of Japan’s World Cup squad and can only start in lower-tier competitions. The more he increases his training load, the tougher it gets physically.

He reflected on missing the Beijing 2022 Olympics, admitting he was deeply disappointed at the time and even considered retirement before regaining belief. Kasai first appeared at the Olympics in Albertville 1992, won team silver in Lillehammer 1994, and claimed an individual silver on the large hill in Sochi 2014. He has appeared at eight Olympic Games, but making a ninth now appears a major challenge.

Ahead of the new winter season, he spoke candidly about his health, noting he has never suffered major injuries but is now experiencing pain in his lower back, knees, and neck—issues he attributes to age and a long career.

While he did manage to win some national competitions and lower-level international events over the past two seasons, Kasai concedes he is not in peak condition. Despite this, he maintains high ambitions and continues to push for a place on Japan’s Olympic team.