The world of ski jumping unites around the figure of Yukio Kasayalegendary Japanese athlete who passed away on April 23rd at the age of 80. The Olympic champion of the 1972 edition he passed away following a long illness that had gripped him for some time, leaving an important legacy to ski jumping, perpetrated not only with his exploits on the field, but also with the contribution he made to this sport, as a member of the committee FIS of the jump between 2001 and 2008.
Kasaya’s ski jumping activity peaked in the 1960s and 1970s, helping to embed his name in ski jumping history. In particular, linked to his name is thegripping story of Sapporo 1972 Olympic gold. In fact, just before the five-circle event, the 1971/72 Four Hills Tour fell, an event in which the Japanese had shown himself to be in great form. His victory in Innsbruck, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberstdorf in the first three stages of the tour and the table set for the “Grand Slam”, which would have come with the eventual victory on the Bischofshofen ski jump. However, the Japanese team’s choice was to leave Europe early, to return home to prepare for the big home Olympic event, thus precluding Kasaya from becoming the first jumper in history to win all four the stages of the tour. A choice that later proved to be more than apt, given that Kasaya managed to become Olympic champion, writing an indelible page in the history of Japan: before him, no Japanese athlete had ever managed to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympic Games. That day, behind him, his teammates Akitsugu Konto and Meiji Aochi, Olympic silver and bronze respectively, finished.
The FIS race director spoke in tribute to Kasaya Sandro Pertilerecalling the contribution given by the Japanese athlete to this sport: “It’s sad and a great loss for the ski jumping family – Pertile’s words – Yukio Kasaya was one of the legendary Olympic champions of our discipline. The historic victory on home soil in 1972 was a milestone in the Japanese ski jumping tradition. But the incredible story of the Four Hills 1971/72 when he was close to winning all four competitions is even more incredible and creates a magical scenario around him.”
