A strong finish by an athlete better known for jumping than skiing secures Japan third place in the Beijing Olympic Nordic combined relay in the nation s first podium finish in the event since winning gold in 1992 and 1994.
Two-time silver medalist Akito Watabe s chance of claiming a first Olympic gold is in jeopardy after his jump left him tied for ninth place going into the cross-country phase of the normal hill individual Nordic combined event at the Beijing Games.
The 10 sets of siblings representing Japan at the Beijing Olympics will use their family links to bring out the best in each other, with some tapping into long-standing rivalries while others work together for a common goal.
In a sport traditionally dominated by long-legged northern Europeans, Japanese Nordic combined skier Akito Watabe has bucked the trend on his way to two straight Olympic silver medals.
Snowboarder Ayumu Hirano, a candidate for the men s halfpipe gold at the Beijing Olympics, is named to Japan s team, effectively bringing all of the nation s biggest medal prospects on board for the Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 event.