'Pioneer of Japanese snowboarding' Hirano Ayumu (28) looked back on the time at the Olympics that he completed while suffering serious injuries.
Japan's Tokyo Sports reported on the 15th (Korea time), "Hirano Ayumu looked back on the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, which he competed in amid multiple fractures. He revealed behind-the-scenes stories of the intense situation at the time, saying "what's most important is that I survived safely.""
Hirano hosted a talk show in Tokyo that day for the Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo, for which he serves as a global brand ambassador. He is a legend who won Japan's first Olympic gold medal in a snowboarding event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. However, at the Milan Olympics held last February, he had to be content with seventh place in the men's snowboard halfpipe.
Although he did not stand on the podium, it was a battle-scarred effort worthy of applause. Hirano suffered multiple simultaneous fractures, including to his hip joint and fibula, after a failed landing at the fifth World Cup event in Switzerland last January. Nevertheless, he competed in the Milan Olympics and completed the race to the end.
Hirano recalled the injury scene: "I fell hard enough that it wouldn't have been surprising if I had hit my head pretty hard. But the board protected me to some extent, so it ended with that level of injury."
He added, "As time passed, the adrenaline wore off and the pain gradually worsened. I was close to a state where even daily activities like using the bathroom or showering were difficult. Ideally, I would have peaked my condition just before the Olympics, but all plans fell apart. I had no choice but to rest in bed and wait to recover, and my head was filled with anxiety."
Still, Hirano showed his mettle as a former gold medalist by finishing in the top 10. He said, "I had to perform in a situation where I could have sustained a more serious injury. In the end, coming back safely was more important than the result," adding, "It was a special experience that I will remember up to now and in the future."
He also hinted at plans for the future. Hirano said, "I achieved one goal of an Olympic gold medal. I strongly wanted to prove snowboarding and what I do in Japan. And with Japanese athletes getting stronger now, I felt at this Olympics that I had achieved another goal," adding, "I also feel like I want to think of new things and move forward."
He also emphasized, "I have a desire to delve deeper into things I like, such as music and clothing. Right now I feel more than ever that snowboarding or the Olympics are not the only path. Going forward, I want to focus my choices on whether they will help me grow more."
Of course, he did not rule out competing in the 2030 Alps Winter Olympics. Hirano said, "I think there will be time to take it easy now. I will organize my thoughts. I also think aiming for the Olympics again is a way of growing," leaving multiple possibilities open.<
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