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More Medals for the Host Country (February 11)
On February 11, as athletes and spectators enjoyed clear weather after the heavy snow that had fallen for the last few days, Japan won two medals: Kazuyoshi Funaki won the silver in the normal hill ski jumping competition, and Tae Satoya won the gold medal in the women's moguls freestyle skiing event.Funaki, a member of Japan's strong ski jumping team, was in fourth place after his first jump of the day, when he only went 87.5 meters. But on his second jump, he caught the wind just right and soared 90.5 meters--past the 90-meter "critical point" that marks the beginning of the dangerously flat section of the landing area. That jump boosted him into second place, behind Jani Soininen of Finland, who won the gold medal in the event.
Meanwhile, at Iizuna Kogen in Nagano City, Tae Satoya won Japan its first-ever women's skiing gold medal. She took first place in the moguls competition, where skiers zip down a bumpy slope and perform midair stunts off two big jumps on the way down. Satoya was the best in the event, which is judged based on a skier's skillful turns, speed, and maneuvers performed in midair. (Shinano Mainichi Shimbun)
Satoya is all smiles after taking first in the moguls competition.
Funaki soars to a silver medal.