When a 19-year-old Noriaki Kasai competed at the Winter Olympics for the first time, Kiichi Miyazawa was Japanese Prime Minister, Bill Clinton was campaigning to become the United States president and Michael Jordan was the NBA's Most Valuable Player.
Over the 26 years since the 1992 Albertville Games, Kasai has managed to carve out a place of his own in the world of ski jumping, drawing praise at home and overseas for his unparalleled longevity.
Starting with the normal hill qualifying on Thursday, the day before the Pyeongchang Games officially open, Kasai, who turns 46 in June, is set to make a record eighth Winter Olympic appearance.