Shima Kawaoka and Marin Ito earned medals in the freestyle skiing dual moguls events at Torino 2025. Ito began to ski inspired by her mother and is now preparing to achieve higher goals at Milano-Cortina 2026.
TURIN, Italy, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Kawaoka wins gold, Ito earns bronze in freestyle skiing dual moguls at Torino 2025.
Shima Kawaoka and Marin Ito, both from Japan, earned medals on Wednesday in the freestyle skiing dual moguls events at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Winter Games in Bardonecchia. Kawaoka captured the men's gold, while Ito secured the women's bronze.
Kawaoka, a native of Sapporo, Hokkaido-a region famous for its world-class skiing and history of hosting international winter sports competitions-fulfilled his dream of victory on the snowy slopes of Piedmont.
For Ito, however, the journey to success has been a different story.
A COMMON BOND
Marin Ito, 20, has already made a name for herself as a promising skier, but her story begins far from the snow-covered slopes. Ito hails from Shizuoka, a region that rarely sees snow.
"There's no snow there," Ito said with a laugh. "So, I had to go to Nagano to practice every day." Despite the challenges of her environment, Ito's determination has driven her to excel. Her inspiration? Her mother.
"My mother used to compete in snowboard cross," Ito explained. "She was a bit of an athlete herself. Whenever the snow season came, she would take me to ski in other parts of Japan."
Although Ito admired her mother, she ultimately chose a different path. "I didn't like snowboarding-I liked skiing," she said. Her mother's passion sparked Ito's interest, but she forged her own trail on skis.
AIMING FOR WINTER OLYMPICS
Now a sports science student at Waseda University in Tokyo, Ito juggles the demands of academia and athletics.
"I practice skiing, then I study, then I do my university homework," she said. Balancing both worlds hasn't been easy, but Ito credits her parents' support for making it possible.
"My parents drive me to ski resorts and support me every step of the way," she said. "They've always been there for me, and I'm really grateful."
Looking ahead, Ito has set her sights on the ultimate goal: competing in the Olympics. "My next goal is the Olympics," she said. With the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games on the horizon, she is ready to push her dreams to the next level.
Whether on the slopes or in the classroom, Ito's story is a testament to hard work, perseverance, and the lasting influence of a mother's love for sport. ■