Their national bobsleigh program clearly wasn't blessed with abundant funding and support, but their hearts were enormous, and they won ours completely. The Japanese women set a decisive (albeit unofficial) record for the most crashes in training. Any way you do it, flying down a track on your head at 140 km/h is frightening and painful. It's part of the sport of bobsleigh... at any track... but to do it more than once has reduced some pretty tough men to tears and caused them to withdraw from competition. The Japanese girls dusted themselves off and stood up smiling, every. single. time. Petite, girly, irrepressibly optimistic ... and tough as nails.
Anticipating a rough ride, they used a temporary cowling in training:
and had to make a few repairs along the way:
Things were so shaky, the FIBT (international governing body for the sport) told them they really didn't have the required skill to compete, but if they insisted, they'd have to sign a waiver. Which they did without hesitation, and proceeded to lay down four successful runs in competition, proudly displaying their sled in all its glory.
After every run, they exchanged high fives:
and accepted the wild cheers of the crowd with much bowing and unbridled enthusiasm:
The Olympics isn't just about determining the best in the world - at its heart, it's about testing the limits of the human spirit, overcoming overwhelming odds, finding the best that is in you and doing it with grace and style. Manami Hino and Konomi Asazu qualified on all counts.
Thank you so much for showing us photos and telling us stories of things we would never see without you. You are wonderful, caring and kind to give us so much.
Posted by: Ronna | 02/03/2010 at 11:07 PM
So well said. Congrats on the hockey medal from a Yank. Thanks so much for all the photos and the sharing. You put such a human touch on these games for me.
Posted by: Jane Prater | 03/03/2010 at 03:40 AM
Well, that sounds like some good Cool Runnings Olympic spirit if I ever heard of any. They sound really awesome, and their sled is beautiful.
It must have been heartbreaking for the track workers to watch them crash over and over again, though. I have a hard enough time watching anyone do it even once, and I've never even met these people.
Posted by: kingshearte | 03/03/2010 at 04:17 AM
That is one of the BEST stories from the Olympics. Much better than the junk NBC was peddling. Thank you for telling this and posting all your pics of "behind the scenes"
Posted by: colleen | 03/03/2010 at 04:32 AM
A great post. This is the Olympic spirit. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: sonja poor | 03/03/2010 at 04:42 AM
Wow. Amazing story with fabulous pictures. Thanks. :)
Posted by: Kate | 03/03/2010 at 04:44 AM
Wonderful post. Brought a tear to my eye.
Posted by: CuddleDemon | 03/03/2010 at 05:15 AM
I love this story. Medals are wonderful, of course, but THIS is the true spirit of the Olympics.
Posted by: Ruth | 03/03/2010 at 05:46 AM
what a great story! I LOVE their sled and their pink and black gear - so Japanese and so girly, but good on them for being so tough and evoking the Olympic spirit. Thanks for telling their story. Like Colleen says, this is much more interesting than NBC's constant repetition and gingoism.
Posted by: Linda M. | 03/03/2010 at 07:27 AM
Thanks for the story. There's only so much the mainstream media can cover. Repeatedly. Ad nauseum. I love the paint job on their sled.
Posted by: Judy G. | 03/03/2010 at 07:27 AM
Thanks for sharing that - that got me all teary eyed this morning reading this story. I'm proud of those gals for not giving up and not being afraid of taking chances.
Posted by: Emiko | 03/03/2010 at 07:29 AM
So inspiring... I wish I could high five them right back. Thank you for sharing this story.
Posted by: KathleenC | 03/03/2010 at 08:02 AM
Thank you, Ruth.... this is a wonderful story.
Posted by: Thistledown | 03/03/2010 at 08:12 AM
That is a lovely story. Thank you for sharing the off the scenes with us.
Posted by: Lab Cat | 03/03/2010 at 10:27 AM
Absolutely right! Love the sentiments behind this post. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Ros | 03/03/2010 at 10:55 AM
Love the pictures, and what a great story!I agree that it equals someone getting the Gold! Thanks also for the closeups of the bouquets. I too have wanted a close up view. I really thought the back part of the bouquet was some kind of ribbon. And what an interesting story behind the making of them. Thanks for not quitting when the Olympics did.
Posted by: Anna Lee | 03/03/2010 at 03:33 PM
I've told everyone - friends, family, strangers in the grocery store...everyone...to read your Olympic posts. I hope they all have taken my advice, because you have the greatest coverage. THE GREATEST! More, please. Thanks.
Posted by: Jill | 03/03/2010 at 07:05 PM
The Japanese do some amazing things. When my daughter lived in Japan she told me of a festival where people jump on entire logs and ride them down the side of a muddy hill/mountain. It is, literally, a life-threatening event!
Like I said, amazing!!
Love the peek into Whistler through your eyes. Thank you.
Posted by: geraldine | 04/03/2010 at 07:36 PM