Olympic Spirit 3

One thing that always impresses me at each Olympics is the way sports change and adapt in the four years in between. In the early 1990s, Japanese ski jumpers were successful because their small size helped them go farther. But rule changes were implemented to deter other jumpers from unhealthy weight losses. Equipment changes also give some nations advantages over others (although the US speed skaters were touting a new high-tech suit that got none of them to the podium, and now they're returning to their old suits for the relay event). Think of all the changes in your life since 1992, the year that Albertville, France hosted the Winter Olympics. Now, consider the fact that you may have watched someone compete at those Olympics who competed in Sochi today. AND at every Winter Olympics in between.

Noriaki Kasai is Japan's top ski jumper, and has been off and on for decades. He has grown and adapted with the ski program, the equipment changes, the fitness challenge, the jumping styles — every change in his sport in the last 22 years. Not just 4 years: 22.

In all of this time, he has only won one Olympic medal, and he came to Sochi because he is still in pursuit of a Gold. It's not completely out of the question - it was just a month ago that he became the oldest jumper to win a World Cup event. He is 41 years old, and appears to be in the best shape for an Olympics yet.

Well, his jump tonight (or, last night in Sochi) was incredible. I can't begin to understand the variables that go into the ski jumping score, but you knew from the look on everyone's faces that he had done something special. He was immediately surrounded by the other jumpers, who were all excited for him because he is so beloved by all of them. Imagine that. Imagine how long this guy has been on the tour! He's old enough to have his own children on the tour. His Olympic career is older than his colleagues. He has seen the successes and failures of a full generation of ski jumpers, and has probably mentored more than a few. He has finished as low as 49th in Salt Lake, and says his own regrets are his motivation. And with only one medal in all of those Olympics, maybe the adoration and respect of his own competitors is his reward.

And the Silver Medal he just won in Sochi. I think that Silver Medal he just won is a pretty good reward. He's still planning on getting that Gold in Korea, though.