Masahiko Harada

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameMasahiko•Harada
Used nameMasahiko•Harada
Nick/petnamesHappy
Original name原田•雅彦
Born9 May 1968 in Kamikawa, Hokkaido (JPN)
Measurements173 cm / 58 kg
AffiliationsSnow Brand Milk Products, Ltd.
NOC Japan
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 3

Biography

A two time World Champion (1993, 1997), Masahiko Harada is best remembered for his performances in team competitions at the 1994 and 1998 Olympics. At Lillehammer, the Japanese team was leading the competition with just one jump to go. Harada, the team’s best jumper, only needed a sub-par jump to grab the gold. Having jumped 122.0 m in the first round, he landed after only 97.5 m, and Japan moved down to second place. Four years later, competing before a home crowd at Nagano, Harada again flunked in his first attempt, dragging his team down from first to fourth place. But he redeemed himself in the second round with a massive 137 m jump, enough for the gold, Japan’s first in the sport since 1972. Masahiko Harada continued his career until 2006, although he spent his last years on the minor Continental and Grand Prix circuit. He retired after his last Olympic appearance ended during qualification, and became a trainer for the factory team he represented throughout his career, Snow Brand Milk.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1992 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) JPN Masahiko Harada
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 14
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 4
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Japan 4
1994 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) JPN Masahiko Harada
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 55
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 13
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Japan 2 Silver
1998 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) JPN Masahiko Harada
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 5
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 3 Bronze
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Japan 1 Gold
2002 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) JPN Masahiko Harada
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) =20
Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) 20
Large Hill, Team, Men (Olympic) Japan 5
2006 Winter Olympics Ski Jumping (Skiing) JPN Masahiko Harada
Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) AC r1/2

Olympic Records

Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.
Games Date Sport Event Phase Mark Pos
1994 Winter Olympics 25 February 1994 Ski Jumping (Skiing) Normal Hill, Individual, Men Jump #1 92.0 16
1998 Winter Olympics 15 February 1998 Ski Jumping (Skiing) Large Hill, Individual, Men Jump #2 136.0 2
1998 Winter Olympics 17 February 1998 Ski Jumping (Skiing) Large Hill, Individual, Men Jump #2 137.0 1

Special Notes