Noriaki Kasai made some interesting revelations to the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet during the Holmenkollen World Cup weekend.
Noriaki Kasai, 51, has returned to ski jumping World Cup competitions in Europe after more than four years. He competed a week ago in Lahti and this weekend in Holmenkollen. He was last seen competing in Europe in December 2019.
Kasai is now making history in each of his World Cup races, as he is the oldest World Cup competitor of all time. Kasai made headlines in mid-February as the oldest ever to reach World Cup points, but he also did the same trick a week ago in Lahti after being 28th.
In the opening race of the Holmenkollen weekend, Kasai was 47th. The Japanese made an interesting revelation after the race to Dagbladet, when the Norwegian newspaper asked how long he plans to continue his career.
– Hard to say, but maybe ten years.
Dagbladet also asked how it is possible and what Kasai eats.
– Japanese rice. It gives strength, says Kasai.
Kasai was completely sidelined from the World Cup until February 2020 before this winter. Now, however, he is back among the world’s best.
– The level of jumping has become really high, but I have never given up, Kasai described.
Urheilu’s ski jumping expert and has already competed with Kasai in previous decades Janne Ahonen saw the return of the Japanese at the Salpausselkä Games as the reason for the man’s dedication and passion for the sport. The return to Ahonen also told something about the current state of ski jumping.
– The absolute top jumps at their own level, they are extreme machines. But right behind the top there is a big leap in level difference. It enables Kasai to jump to such positions, Ahonen told .
The current members of the national ski jumping team interviewed by STT also admired Kasai’s level.
– If I’m going to jump to Kasai’s age, I’m only halfway there, the 24-year-old who passed the World Cup qualifier for the first time in Lahti Henri Kavilo counted.
– It’s great to watch. Once you learn, it’s hard to lose the jump. Tough guy. You can’t imagine such a thing, a 20-year-old touring the World Cup in his first season Kasperi Valto said.
– Pretty tough trick. Especially considering his age. Age doesn’t weigh too much, but he shows that such a thing is possible, the 28-year-old hero of the Finnish national team Antti Aalto praised.
– Hats off, 26 years old Eetu Nousiainen glowed.
– Faija was at the youth World Championships at the same time as him, the 24-year-old who became Finland’s number one jumper this season Niko Kytösaho said.
Kytösaho’s father Pasi Kytösaho is, like Kasai, born in 1972 and jumped in the national team in the 1990s.
– Faija stopped jumping 20 years ago. It’s kind of fun. Just as if he was going to drag himself there, Kytösaho compared Kasai’s age difference to the mass of the mountain circus.
Hill Jumping World Cup competition from Holmenkollen live on TV2 and Areena from 15:15.