The shining star of ladies' ski jumping - portrait of Sara Takanashi
Sara Takanashi is a Japanese ski jumper and despite the young age he already achieved a lot. She was born on October 8, 1996 in Kamikawa, Japan. As a kid Takanashi was studying ballet and piano, but since she discovered the sport of ski jumping at age 8 thank to her father and older brother, her incredible journey began.
In the season 2008/2009 at the age of 13 she made her debut in the Continental Cup in Zao, where she placed on the 19th position. One year later in the same place she jumped for the first time on the CoC podium by ranking 3rd. In 2011 Japanese girl won for the first time the CoC competition in Ramsau and took part in the World Championships in Oslo. She performed very well - she placed on the 6th position.
Season 2011/2012
In this season her great successes began. In the very first in the history Ladies' World Cup competition, which was held in Norwegian Lillehammer, Takanashi took the 5th place. But already one month later she stood for the first time on the World Cup podium, by being ranked 2nd in Hinterzarten. But it was just a beginning. 2012 began with gold medal at the Winter Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, then two gold medals at the Junior World Championships and finally the first World Cup victory. In the overall standings she was ranked 3rd. Then came the summer in which Takanashi was unbeatable and eventually won the overall Summer Grand Prix.
Season 2012/2013
In 2012 in the first in the history of the World Cup mixed team competition the representatives of Japan - Sara Takanashi, Yuki Ito, Yuta Watase and Taku Takeuchi took the second place behind Norway and ahead of Italy. Individually she won 8 of 16 World Cup competitions and became the youngest ever winner of the overall World Cup at the age of 16.
The World Championships in Val di Fiemme 2013 was the most successful event for young Japanese girl so far. Takanashi won the silver medal at the normal hill and then she won gold in the mixed team normal hill competition with Yuki Ito, Daiki Ito and Taku Takeuchi. On the Junior World Championships 2013 in Liberec she secured the champion title and became the first girl in the history who managed to do it. But the team event was less successful - after the disqualification of one of the Japanese girls Yuka Kobayashi the team of Japan eventually finished 5th. In the summer once again she turned out to be the best and for the second time she won the overall Summer Grand Prix.
Season 2013/2014
In this season Takanashi once again was unbeatable - she won 15 World Cup competitions and without a doubt for the second time in a row won the overall World Cup title.
She was the favorite for gold medal at the first ladies' event at the Olympics in Sochi, but eventually she finished just behind the podium, what was a huge surprise.
Season 2014/2015
In the current season Takanashi jumps well, but not that far as earlier. But it worth mention that she improved her style and landing, with which she had problems before. The World Championships in Falun are ahead of us - we will see if she can improve her result from Val di Fiemme and win the first World Champion title.
By Anna Sobol
