OLYMPICS/ Japanese fencer overcomes height disadvantage to claim gold

By KOSUKE INAGAKI/ Staff Writer

July 29,デマーシア 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.”

• ·「ベルサイユのばら」デザインマンホール蓋を柏市で設置　池田理代子もコメント寄せる（コメントあり）
• ·古江彩佳は１つ落とし暫定７６位に後退　西郷真央は日本時間午後９時５０分スタート
• ·広島・大瀬良大地―阪神・門別啓人…スタメン発表
• ·【札幌４Ｒ】大野拓弥騎手が現役１４人目のＪＲＡ通算１万３０００回騎乗達成
• ·「ゆるキャン△」食レポで味覚の鋭さ見せつける、花守ゆみり＆東山奈央が4期決定に感謝（イベントレポート / 写真32枚）
• ·【オリックス】宮城大弥、２２歳ラスト登板で８回零封の快投も無援…今季２０度目完封負け
• ·みちょぱが運転免許ゲット　学科は自習で「１回も落ちずにストレート」合格　名字にも注目
• ·クラッシャー前泊さん、恩師・大仁田厚の５０周年大会でリング復帰「大仁田さんのために宮古島から駆けつけたよ！」
• ·【競輪】寺崎浩平が通算１００勝達成！四日市記念決勝で１０１勝目になるか
• ·大谷翔平、史上最速の１２６試合で「４０―４０」到達　ＭＬＢ６人目の快挙　自身初のサヨナラ満塁弾で決めた
• ·【巨人】ドラ１西舘勇陽が２軍合流　２３日のプロ初先発では５回４失点で黒星
• ·クラッシャー前泊さん、恩師・大仁田厚の５０周年大会でリング復帰「大仁田さんのために宮古島から駆けつけたよ！」
• ·【四日市競輪】ルーキーシリーズプラスは山崎歩夢が優勝「父のようにたくさんＧ１をとりたい」
• ·【セパ公示】（２４日）巨人が泉圭輔を登録し西舘勇陽を抹消　西武が甲斐野央を登録し本田圭佑を抹消
• ·【ボートレース】売り上げに響くＦ後の６号艇縛り見直しては…記者コラム
• ·平戸海、新小結での２桁勝利＆初三賞で「自信はつきました」　夏巡業では充実の稽古