Akito Watabe hopes thrilling Nordic combined finishes will help broaden sport's appeal in Japan
"It's been an Olympics which I can confidently say we've provided the viewers with fun races. Frankly, it's something I'm really happy about," Watabe said.
A strong finish by an athlete better known for jumping than skiing secured third place and Japan's first podium finish in the event since winning gold in 1992 and 1994.
Akito Watabe takes bronze behind Joergen Graabak's gold in Nordic combined
Just as he did last week, Graabak sat back in the field and timed his charge perfectly to edge compatriot Jens Oftebro, who also came from deep to take silver.
Watabe was overall Nordic combined World Cup champion for the 2017-18 season, becoming only the second Japanese athlete to achieve the feat.
Japan's skiing and snowboarding hopefuls look to soar in Beijing
Medal predictions released last week by Nielsen's Gracenote had Japan winning three golds at the Beijing Games and they all were in either skiing or snowboarding.
Ryoyu Kobayashi ties Japan best with 19th Nordic World Cup win
Ryoyu Kobayashi won the ski flying World Cup event in Planica, Slovenia, on Thursday for his 19th victory on the tour, tying the record for most by a Japanese man in Nordic skiing. With his 19th individual win, the 24-year-old Kobayashi drew level with Kenji ...
Magus Riiber holds off Akito Watabe to take 35th World Cup win
Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber earned his 35th Nordic Combined World Cup win in Germany on Saturday, just managing to hold off Japan's fast-finishing Akito Watabe in a sprint to the line. Riiber started the 10-kilometer cross-country ski leg in Klingenthal, with a six-second advantage over ...
Akito Watabe took bronze in the Nordic combined large hill individual Gundersen competition Thursday to reach the podium at a third straight Nordic World Ski Championships. Reigning junior world champion Johannes Lamparter from Austria won the event in Oberstdorf, Germany, ahead of normal hill world ...
Akito Watabe places fifth at world championships as Jarl Magnus Riiber defends crown
Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber defended his men's normal hill Nordic combined title in the individual Gundersen competition with Akito Watabe finishing fifth at the FIS Ski World Championships in Germany on Friday. Ryota Yamamoto led the standings in Oberstdorf after the ski jumping round with ...
Akito Watabe secures fourth straight World Cup podium finish
Akito Watabe put up a strong fight against Norway's Jarl Magnus Riiber and finished third, earning his fourth straight podium finish, on Day 3 of the Nordic combined World Cup in Seefeld, Austria. Riiber, who finished atop the rankings in both of the previous days' ...
Akito Watabe ties Japanese record with 19th Nordic combined World Cup win
Akito Watabe on Sunday claimed his first individual Nordic combined skiing World Cup victory of the season, and 19th overall, to tie the all-time record for wins on the circuit by a Japanese skier. With his win in Lahti, Finland, the two-time Olympic silver medalist ...
Two-time Olympic silver medalist Akito Watabe finished third at a Nordic combined skiing World Cup round in Ruka, Finland, on Saturday, stepping onto the podium for the first time this season. Watabe finished second in the jumping round with a leap of 139.5 meters and ...
