Three Olympic snowboarders, including gold medalist Yuto Totsuka, returned to Japan on the 17th, sharing their experiences at Haneda Airport after performing at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Totsuka, who secured a gold medal, expressed his fulfillment in achieving his long-time dream after previous placements of 11th in PyeongChang and 10th in Beijing. He reflected on the struggles of the past years, emphasizing that his consistent effort and perseverance through difficult times were ultimately rewarded.

Ryuusei Yamada, who won a bronze medal with innovative tricks at just 19 years old, mentioned the joy of completing his runs and expressed his determination to maintain his performance leading up to the next Olympics. He highlighted the satisfaction of realizing his personal skating goals amidst the excitement of competition. Both athletes demonstrated that hard work and maintaining their unique styles were crucial to their achievements.

Mitsuki Ono, a 21-year-old who earned a bronze medal in her second Olympics, noted a stark contrast to her previous experience in Beijing, where there were no spectators. She relished the support from fans during the competition this time, stating that encouragement motivated her to strive for her best performance. Ono focused solely on executing her routine, which contributed to her successful run and realization of her Olympic goals. This return marks not only a significant achievement for these athletes but also continues to inspire aspiring snowboarders in Japan.