Ryoyu Kobayashi, who claimed Japan's first Olympic ski jumping gold in 24 years after triumphing in the men's normal hill event, said Tuesday it takes more than just hard work and natural talent to reach the pinnacle.
With 26 World Cup wins -- the most by any Japanese male ski jumper -- and two Four Hills titles, Kobayashi is as well-credentialed as anyone, but the 25-year-old said that does not make winning an Olympic medal any easier.
"You need to be unquestionably good to keep winning on the World Cup circuit. But what makes winning in the Olympics hard is that you have to be in your best condition that day, and then there's the wind," he said.
"They're both challenging."
Two days after winning Japan's first gold of the Feb. 4-20 Beijing Olympics, Kobayashi said he has not received the medal yet, but when he does, he plans to hang it around the neck of his club coach Noriaki Kasai, the man he calls his teacher.
Kobayashi said he has been inundated with congratulatory messages from friends, but he has not been able to respond to all of them yet.
"I'm happy there's so much reaction," he said.
In a do-or-die situation on Sunday, Kobayashi said the wind conditions were more stable than expected, adding that he is rarely bothered by the winds, anyway.
This Saturday, Kobayashi competes in the individual large hill event, where he hopes to double his golden haul.
He had a chance for three medals but Japan finished fourth in the mixed team event on Monday.
In a drama-filled event marred by multiple equipment-related disqualifications, Japan had its medal chances dashed when Sara Takanashi was one of five jumpers to have jump scores struck off.
Kobayashi was seen hugging his tearful teammate after his enormous second jump of 106 meters, which could not fully compensate for Takanashi's disqualification as Canada took bronze by 8.3 points.
"I didn't feel like all the weight was on me. I just wanted to deliver my best possible performance," said Kobayashi.
But ski jumping's shooting star has already put the past behind him.
"I've won the gold medal I coveted but the games are still going on. I'm not done yet," he said.
"I feel nothing but excitement (for the large hill). I'm confident."
