OLYMPICS/ Japanese fencer overcomes height disadvantage to claim gold

By KOSUKE INAGAKI/ Staff Writer

July 29,スポーツ ニュース mlb 2024 at 17:56 JST

• Share
• Tweet list

• Print

Koki Kano celebrates while holding the Japanese flag after winning the gold medal in the men’s individual epee competition during the 2024 Olympics at the Grand Palais on July 28. (Yuki Shibata)

Japanese fencer Koki Kano didn't let a massive height difference, a hostile crowd and even losses by his teammates to his opponent stop him from standing tallest on the podium. 

Kano defeated Yannick Borel of France, who is 23 centimeters taller than him, in the men’s individual epee event at the Paris Olympics on July 28 to make history. 

The match was held on Borel’s home turf, but the partisan French fans all cheering for the local favorite did not deter the 26-year-old Kano, who claimed Japan's first gold medal ever in an Olympic fencing individual event. 

Kazuyasu Minobe and Masaru Yamada, who won team gold with Kano at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, were both defeated by the 1.96-meter-tall Borel earlier that day.

“I could not be the third Japanese to lose to (Borel),” Kano said.

He channeled all his spirit into his weapon to avenge the defeat of his senior teammates.

Kano is 1.73 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms.

With his shorter reach, he had to bring the fight into close quarters to have a chance of winning.

He parried his opponents’ thrusts and then quickly closed the distance to land his own strikes.

This strategy paid off in the final, where Kano beat Borel 15-9. He silenced the packed stadium with a dominating victory.

Kano was confident even before the start of the Paris Games.

“I’m in the best condition of my fencing career,” Kano said before the Olympics. “My world ranking of third shows my capability, and I have a pretty good chance of winning the gold medal.”

His triumph showed that he was true to his word.

Kano hails from Aichi Prefecture. When he was a child, he participated in gymnastics.

But after seeing Yuki Ota clinch silver in the foil―Japan’s first individual medal in fencing―at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he picked up the sword.

Then he switched to the epee while at Iwakuni Technical High School in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

“I started fencing because I watched Ota, so, I never imagined I would surpass him,” Kano said. “I’m deeply moved and I can’t believe it.”

• ·「コジコジ」展示イベントのグッズは約50種類、王様風衣装のコジコジがぬいぐるみに（写真45枚）
• ·「聖闘士星矢 THEN 廃墟の花」フルカラーで週チャンに登場、名シーンの全サも
• ·「聖闘士星矢 THEN 廃墟の花」フルカラーで週チャンに登場、名シーンの全サも
• ·楽園15周年記念の描き下ろし本をCOMITIA150で販売　原画展やトークショーも
• ·世界一若く見える６７歳・大仁田厚、「水ダウ」若見え対決に登場で予告「まったくシャレにならないよ！」
• ·【ボートレース】急成長の藤原碧生が今年５回目の優勝を狙う…宮島ルーキーシリーズ１４日開幕
• ·推しを幸せにするためなら、なんだってしてみせる「悪役令嬢にできること。」1巻（試し読みあり）
• ·初めての彼女は、かわいすぎる男子だった「稲穂くんは偽カノジョのはずなのに」1巻（動画あり）
• ·空手の試合中に危険行為で物議…選手の所属会が謝罪、セコンドは「無期限の謹慎」処分に
• ·ハッピーセットに初のマンガ「深海のサバイバル 特別編」、11月15日より限定販売（コメントあり）
• ·ハッピーセットに初のマンガ「深海のサバイバル 特別編」、11月15日より限定販売（コメントあり）
• ·ＮＨＫ大河「光る君へ」宇治での逢瀬「この川で２人流されてみません？」が生んだ未来…三条朝には異変も　第４３回みどころ
• ·【大島幸久の伝統芸能】明治座で「一本刀土俵入」「お染の七役」花形の女形トップランナー中村七之助に目が向いた
• ·「ドラゴンクエストIII」発売記念で「ドラクエ4コマ」復活！公式SNSで作品を順次公開
• ·アニメ「SAKAMOTO DAYS」2クールで来年1月放送開始、OP曲はVaundyが書き下ろし（コメントあり / 動画あり）
• ·映画「顔だけじゃ好きになりません」奏人役で宮世琉弥が主演、才南役は久間田琳加（動画あり / コメントあり）