Japan’s Poor Showing Opens Door for Finland

The Olympic ski-jumping venue, site of one of Japan’s great moments at the Nagano Games, was mostly silent this time.

There wasn’t much cause for horn-blowing or wild cheering.

Two days after 50,000 fans saw Japan win the gold medal in 120-meter team jumping, the host nation struggled with its jumps in the Nordic combined team event at Hakuba.

As a result, two-time defending champion Japan was fifth heading into the cross-country portion.

“The Japanese team did not make any grave mistakes,” said team member Gen Tomii, “so we’re still in with a chance of a medal.”

It will be a difficult task. Japan will start the cross-country race 21 seconds behind the leader, Finland.

Austria is in second place, four seconds behind Finland, followed by Norway (eight seconds) and the Czech Republic.

Considered stronger at the ski jump than in cross country, the Japanese just didn’t produce.

While individual world champion Kenji Ogiwara had leaps of 89 and 86 meters on the 90-meter hill, Finland’s Samppa Lajunen came up with 94.5 in the second round to give his team the lead.

Norway’s lineup will have the Combined’s individual gold medalist here, Bjarte Engen Vik, who came up with impressive leaps of 94.5 and 95.5 but didn’t get much help from his teammates.

The United States finished the jumping in ninth place, with 2 minutes 45 seconds to make up on the leader Friday.