A Legend's Milan Olympics Dream Falls Short

On January 18, 2026, at the Okurayama Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo, Japan, the legendary ski jumper Noriaki Kasai (53, Team Tsuchiya Home) competed in the qualifying round of the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup.

The result was 112 meters with 84.4 points, placing him 56th and failing to advance to the main competition. That left him short of the Japan Ski Association's qualification criteria for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. His dream of a ninth Games, and a first since PyeongChang in 2018, ended there.

"It's Not Over Yet": An Indomitable Spirit Looks to 2030

However, there was no sign of despair in Kasai's eyes. In post-competition interviews, he declared:

"I kind of expected this. Deep down, I knew that with my current condition, the Olympics would probably be impossible. But this isn't the end. Even when I wasn't in peak form, I was still selected for the World Cup team. I wondered how far I could go if I reached top condition. It's not over yet. I will keep fighting without giving up."

Kasai made clear his intention to compete at the 2030 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in the French Alps, when he will be 57 years old. When asked about that age, he replied with a smile:

"Isn't that the best? Still competing at this age."

Over 40 Years of Ski Jumping

Noriaki Kasai was born on June 6, 1972, in Shimokawa, Hokkaido, Japan. Coincidentally, that was the year Sapporo hosted the Winter Olympics. He began ski jumping in third grade after being invited by a friend, and his career in the sport now spans over 40 years.

In 1988, at just 16 years old as a high school freshman, he made his World Cup debut. At the 1992 Albertville Olympics, he appeared at his first Games at age 19. From there, he competed in Lillehammer (1994), Nagano (1998), Salt Lake City (2002), Turin (2006), Vancouver (2010), Sochi (2014), and PyeongChang (2018): eight consecutive Winter Games, the most by any athlete.

The Sochi Silver Medal and the "Legend" Title

The highlight of Kasai's career came at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, at 41. He took silver in the individual large hill on February 15 and bronze in the team event on the 17th. It was his first individual Olympic medal, in his seventh Games.

That team bronze, at 41 years and 256 days, is recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest ski jumping medallist at a Winter Olympics. Sochi is where the "Legend" name stuck.

Multiple Guinness World Records

Kasai holds seven Guinness World Records. Two were added in April 2024, putting him level with Ichiro Suzuki.

  • Most Winter Olympic appearances: 8 Games (Albertville 1992 to PyeongChang 2018)
  • Oldest ski jumping medallist at a Winter Olympics: 41 years 256 days
  • Oldest Ski Jumping World Cup event winner: 42 years 176 days (Ruka, November 29, 2014)
  • Oldest World Cup individual podium finisher: 44 years 293 days (Planica, March 2017)
  • Oldest World Cup points scorer: 51 years 290 days (Planica, March 2024)
  • Most individual World Cup starts: 579 (per his club, Team Tsuchiya, as of February 16, 2025)
  • Most appearances at FIS Nordic World Ski Championships by an individual ski jumper: 13

Receiving the two new certificates in April 2024, Kasai said he never expected to be handed world records past 50, and that he was going for an eighth.

Inspired by King Kazu

Kasai draws inspiration from soccer legend Kazuyoshi Miura, known as "King Kazu." On December 30, 2025, Miura, born in 1967, was announced as joining J3 side Fukushima United on loan from Yokohama FC: his first J-League football in five years, and his first in J3. Kasai said:

"If I can deliver energy and courage to everyone, I'll keep going. Kazu-san is also working hard in the J-League, so I want to follow in his footsteps."

Two men in their fifties, both still competing.

The Drive to Continue: A Hunger for Gold

Why does Kasai continue competing in his 50s? The answer lies in his hunger for Olympic gold. When he won silver at Sochi, he was just 1.3 points behind the gold medalist. He later reflected:

"I'm disappointed, about 60-40 disappointed. I didn't shed any tears because it wasn't gold."

At the 1998 Nagano Olympics, an injury kept him off the team event roster, forcing him to watch his teammates win gold with mixed emotions. That frustration, even after more than a quarter-century, continues to drive him forward.

Family Support and Mentor Bonds

Kasai is supported by his wife Reina, whom he married after the Sochi Olympics, and their daughter Rino, born in 2016. Having lost both his mother and younger sister in the past, family means everything to him.

At Team Tsuchiya Home, where Kasai has been player-coach since 2009, is Ryoyu Kobayashi, whom Kasai recruited himself. Kobayashi won gold on the normal hill at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Kasai watched it happen in person: "To see my protégé win gold right before my eyes, I couldn't be happier."

The Road to 2030

Although Kasai missed the Milan Olympics, he remains focused on the future:

"My condition really isn't bad right now. Not great, but not bad. It feels like things could click into place at any moment. There are still four more years. I'm excited to see how I'll develop during that time and will dedicate myself to training."

When he missed the Beijing Olympics in 2022, Kasai had already said he wanted to keep jumping until he was 60. If he makes it at 57, his own record for Winter Olympic appearances stretches to nine.

In Japan, athletes who continue competing at the highest level into their 50s are celebrated and admired. What are the views in your country about "age limits" in sports? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

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