By Ai Yoshida

The Universiade is an international competition at which many university athletes aim. It is also called "The FISU World University Games," and university athletes come from around the world to compete among themselves on the international stage. The winter Universiade was held in Tarvisio, Italy this year. Taro Takayanagi, a sophomore in the Business Administration Department, belongs to the Sapporo University Ski Club. He was selected as a national team member for the ski jump event, and competed in this world championship. His participation in the Universiade is the first for an SU student and a splendid achievement.

Taro Takayanagi, from Iwamizawa in Hokkaido, started ski jumping when he was in the fourth grade of elementary school, his friends getting him to jump almost by force. Although he had always won a prize whenever he participated in competitions, he said that he was amazed by the high level in the Universiade which surpassed his expectations, He also said with chagrin that he realized that he must put forth more effort, while he consider that the Universiade was only a passage point for a champion. He didn't score very high, but he has high hopes for the future as he told me, "I am aiming at a high ranking and am always looking for victory. The jump is always a contest with oneself."

Taro said shyly, "I don't think the jump is hard, because the jump is a part of my life. As I have had good results in competitions, I feel grateful." I perceived from the following words that he has great emotional strength and enthusiasm for the jump: "Although managing both school work and club activities is hard, I am sure I am different from other students." As he said that he intends to get a job in a business and to be an Olympic athlete in the future, I caught a glimpse of his passion in his eyes.

In addition to Takayanagi, Akihiro Endo, captain of the SU Ski Club, a senior of the Business Administration Department, expressed the following; "The relationship between our managers, coaches and members led to good results. Without Mr. Naoyuki Sasaki, manager, and the other coaches who coach for us as volunteers, we could not have had such good results." Akihiro also said that both members who entered SU through exams and those admitted by sports recommendations stimulate each other, and they are growing strong. I believe that Takayanagi grew to be a strong competitor thanks to such fine supporters and environment.

Besides these students, Seiko Koasa, a woman member of the SU Ski Club (Women's Junior College), was selected to be a member of the national jump team for an international competition under the auspices of FIS (Federation Internationale de Sport). The national jump team placed third as a team in the competition. I expect that she also will participate actively in ski jumping in the future.

The SU Ski Club ranked eighth in the top division at the All Japan Student Ski Championship Competition (Intercollegiate Competition) this year. In the Intercollegiate Competition, a total score in the jump, alpine and cross-country events decides the ranking. With this score, the 148 affiliated universities are divided into four divisions. After 30 years of effort the SU Ski Club was finally raised to the first division three years ago, and since it has firmly kept their rank in that division. The score of the SU Ski Club improves year by year.

Finally, both Takayanagi and Endo said expectantly, "I hope that ski events become major and many people should become interested in them." Twenty-year-old Takayanagi will continue to improve his record and I look forward to the increased activity of this young ace on the world stage. Every SU student should watch and cheer these SU athletes at the ski-jump events in Sapporo .