Japanese Paralympic athlete Momoka Muraoka will miss the women's downhill event at the upcoming Winter Paralympics due to a clavicle injury sustained last year.
Momoka Muraoka, a leading athlete for Japan in the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics, has been confirmed to miss the women's downhill event scheduled for March 7 (Japan time March 8). This announcement was made by the Japanese Paralympic Committee on March 5. Muraoka suffered a clavicle fracture last November, which has delayed her training until resuming on the snow this February, hindering her preparation for the competition.
During the official practice held on March 4 at the competition venue, Muraoka exhibited caution, reducing her speed while navigating the course. After the session, she expressed to reporters that she needed to consider her participation in the faster events, such as downhill and super-G, until the last moment. Her decision to withdraw from such a significant event marks a considerable setback, especially given her history of success in the winter Paralympics where she has won nine medals over three games.
Muraoka has been a key figure in Japanese Paralympic sports, achieving remarkable feats including three gold medals at the previous 2022 Beijing Games, as well as silver and gold in downhill events at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Her absence from the downhill event will be a disappointment to her team and supporters, as they look towards her continued contributions in other competitions during the Winter Paralympics.
