Japanese Paralympic cross-country skier and biathlete
Yoshihiro Nitta (新田佳浩, Nitta Yoshihiro, born 8 July 1980) is a Japanese Paralympic cross-country skier and biathlete.[1] He is regarded as one of the most experienced Japanese Paralympic competitors as he went onto represent Japan at the Paralympics in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.[2] Yoshihiro Nitta has clinched 4 medals in his Paralympic career including 2 gold medals at the 2010 Winter Paralympics.[3] He achieved his 4th Paralympic medal in his career and the first medal since the 2010 Winter Paralympics after claiming a silver medal in the men's 1.5km sprint classic standing cross-country skiing event during the 2018 Winter Paralympics.[4][5][6]
Biography
As a child, his left arm was amputated at the age of 3 below the elbow after it was found evident that his left arm was caught in a combine harvest which was driven by his grandfather. He took the sport of skiing at the age of nine. He took the sport in the third grade of his elementary school. He graduated at the University of Tsukuba.[3]
Career
Yoshihiro Nitta made his Paralympic debut for Japan during the 1998 Winter Paralympics but went medalless in his first Paralympic event. He clinched his first Paralympic medal which was a bronze medal in the men's 5km classic style event as a part of the 2002 Winter Paralympics. Yoshihiro made his reputation at the 2010 Winter Paralympics claiming 2 gold medals in the 1km sprint classic standing and 10km classic style events.[7][8]
Yoshihiro Nitta represented 2018 Winter Paralympics representing Japan, making it as his 6th consecutive Winter Paralympic event since making his debut in 1998.[9][10] He claimed his first Paralympic gold medal in 8 years by securing gold in the men's cross-country 10km classical skiing event during the 2018 Winter Paralympics taking 24 minutes and 6.8 seconds.[11][12]
He underwent a rehab after spraining his left ankle which he endured during a training session in August 2021. He insisted that he was inspired to train hard and prepare himself for 2022 Winter Paralympics after watching the passion of athletes through television who took part in 2020 Summer Paralympics amid the COVID-19 triggered bogged buildup for the competition.[13] He represented Japan at the 2022 Winter Paralympics which also remarkably marked his 7th consecutive Winter Paralympic event and he achieved it at the age of 41.[14]
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