Tsutomu Kawasaki

Tsutomu Kawasaki had an unremarkable Olympic début, competing in all short-track events at the 1988 Winter Games, when the sport first appeared as a demonstration competition. Four years later, Kawasaki carried the Japanese flag during the Opening Ceremony as short-track had become a full medal sport. Along with his relay teammates, Kawasaki managed to bring home a bronze medal, fending off the New Zealanders in the final as Canada and South Korea proved out of reach. In the same year, the Japanese would also claim the relay event at the World Championships, with Kawasaki on the team. Individually, Kawasaki had earlier won the 1,000 m world title at the 1990 edition in Amsterdam. After his skating career, Kawasaki has remained involved with the Olympics as a board member of the Japan Olympians Association.