Jinya Nishikata

Jinya Nishikata, who began to ski jump at the age of seven, made his debut on the World Cup circuit as a teenager in 1987 but then spent four years away from top level competition before re-emerging in 1992 with a series of top ten finishes. Nishikata never won a World Cup event during his career though he was runner-up on three occasions during his mid-90s heyday. He was a valuable member of the Japanese squad during team competitions and, in addition to his Olympic medal, was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the 1995 World Championships. Nishikata suffered from a lower back injury towards the end of his career and retired after the 2000-01 season. He later coached junior ski jumpers.