Koji Murofushi (JPN) in the men's Hammer Throw qualification (© Getty Images)
How are you all? I have now returned to Japan from Athens, where a lot has happened during the Olympic Games. I, of course, am very happy to have won a gold medal in Athens. My only regret, perhaps, is that I was not presented with the gold during the medal ceremony in the capacity filled Olympic stadium.
As you might have guessed, because of the Olympic gold medal, my life has changed dramatically. For example, wherever I go in Japan at the moment, I am constantly asked for autographs and pose for photos.
Some might find these constant requests too much to handle, but I don’t feel that way at all. I believe I was able to win a gold medal because of the encouragements from my fans and I am happy to oblige to their requests for autographs and photo sessions. I wouldn’t be who I am today without my fans and their encouragements.
Ever since I returned to Japan, constant streams of celebration events are coming into my schedule. For example, I was invited to the Prime Minister Jun-ichiro Koizumi’s office; it has renewed my determination to excel in the sports.
As an elite athlete, constant search for a way to improve my hammer throw is a fact of life. Thus during the pre-season, in the winter of 2003 to 2004, I have visited Eugene, Oregon several times for training sessions. Although Chukyo University, my regular training ground in Japan, provides me with perfect training facilities, Eugene also has an excellent training facility. Eugene has other attractions too.
One is the presence of coaches Stewart Togher and Lance Deal, one of the great American hammer throwers of the previous generation. Another is the presence of an excellent training partner James Parker, the US hammer champion. In addition, Eugene provides me with an environment where I can train in a relaxing environment, which is becoming increasingly difficult in Japan. Because Eugene is surrounded by nature’s beauty, I can find tranquility just by being there.
Now that I have won an Olympic gold medal, my popularity status has gone up a notch in Japan, and thus finding peaceful environment to concentrate on my training is even more difficult. Thus, I will again be traveling back and forth between Japan and Eugene during the next off-season. I am looking forward to it.
I believe that even for seasoned competitors, there is lot to learn in the real competitions, as oppose to the simulation of the competition in training. The case in point is this year’s national championships in Tottori, where I have tied my father’s record of ten straight national championships. In Tottori, I was struggling with my technique and up until and including my fifth throw, I was unable to come up with a satisfactory throw. My best mark was 79.41m in the fifth round.
However, fortunately, in the nationals, I was still able keep my focus on the competition and was able to come up with a good throw (82.09m) at the end. It was a good simulation for the Olympic Games, where the similar scenario was in store. In Athens I was able to come up with my best throw (82.91m) in the sixth and the final round.
I have traveled to Athens via Prague, Czech Republic which I have chosen as the site of my final preparation before the Games. Mr. Miraslav Sevcik, the meet director, helped me in many aspects of my preparation for the Games including an excellent facility for training. My coach, Stewart Togher and training partner James Parker were in Prague too. And thus my main purpose of my visit to Prague, which was to train with the fine-tuning my technique for the upcoming Olympic Games in mind, was well served.
Athens was my second Olympic Games, having finished ninth in Sydney four years ago, which was far off my expectation. Besides the obvious improvements like increased strength and improved technique, I can think of two differences between Sydney and Athens. First I was able to focus much better on the competition in Athens.
Second, I had many more people encouraging me, which acted like a tail wind for me. With so many people behind me, I was able to face the competition with much more confidence. I sincerely would like to thank them all and I in turn would like to continue to produce the performances that would make them happy.
Finally, I would like to mention that I experienced many heart-warming incidents outside of athletics competition in these Olympics; I would like to mention just one of them. A young graduate student in my school (I am a graduate student in Chukyo University, where my topic of research is - what else - the hammer throw) has been working four different part time jobs since last November to finance his trip to Athens, so he can cheer me personally during the Olympic hammer competition.
Not only he had to work in addition to his study and training, but he even saved money by cutting into his food bill, which caused him to lose weight. He was so determined to go to Athens to encourage me in person that he said that even if tickets for the hammer throw final were not available, he would still be outside the stadium during the competition to be part of the atmosphere. Because the hotel prices were outrageously high in Athens during the Olympics, he was ready to camp outdoor as well.
Fortunately, when I mentioned his intentions to my boss at Mizuno, they promised to help. This story is only the tip of the iceberg. I would again like to emphasize that without such encouragements from my friends and fans I would not be where I am today.
Koji
