A strong finish by an athlete better known for jumping than skiing secured Japan third place in the Beijing Olympic Nordic combined relay on Thursday in the nation's first podium finish in the event since winning gold in 1992 and 1994.
Japan's anchor, 24-year-old jumping specialist Ryota Yamamoto, held on to third place after a blistering third leg in the 4x5-kilometer relay by large hill bronze medalist Akito Watabe, who bagged his fourth Olympic medal after normal hill individual silvers in Sochi and Pyeongchang.
Austria won in 50 minutes, 45.1 seconds with Germany taking silver in a thrilling three-way final dash for the podium as normal hill champion Vinzenz Geiger overcame a huge deficit to reach the podium.