In a heartfelt conclusion to his Olympic career, Akito Watabe achieved a sixth-place finish in the Nordic Combined Team Sprint at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from fans, stating that even without winning a medal, he cherished the positive aspects of sports that the Olympics showcased. His experience was shaped by his commitment to facing both his sport and himself earnestly, culminating in a profound sense of fulfillment at the Olympics.

Watabe's journey as an athlete was influenced significantly by the local 1998 Nagano Olympics, where he was inspired to take up ski jumping. His childhood dreams of flight, exemplified by launching paper airplanes down the stairs, continued to fuel his ambition as he grew older. He has always been driven by the question of how to achieve the longest jumps, underscoring his relentless pursuit of excellence in the sport over the years.

The athlete highlighted the importance of learning from everyone around him, adopting a mindset where 'everyone is a teacher.' He was particularly influenced by his mentor Kenji Ogiwara, a coach at his affiliation with Kitano Construction, who instilled the mindset of a gold medalist in him, and Norihito Kobayashi, who taught him about the significance of words and their weight. His dedication to learning extended beyond the sport itself, as he engaged with literature and the arts, showcasing a holistic approach to his athletic and personal growth.