Youngster Muraoka continues to make an impact on snow

Japan’s rising alpine skiing star Momoka Muraoka has reflected on a successful season that has followed on from her silver-medal winning performance in downhill at the 2015 World Championships.

Muraoka, 18, won the overall women’s giant slalom sitting IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup this season and finished second in the super-G.

The teenager feels she always can improve and better her performance with every race.

“When I can overcome one wall, I can see a wall that is that little bit higher so I sometimes feel that it is an endless challenge in my sports life but this is what attracts me to alpine skiing,” she said.

Muraoka tried out several different sports when she was younger but fell in love with carving up the slopes.

“I experienced various wheelchair sports when I was child,” she said. “As far as the athletic sports are concerned, the athletes will be able to establish their own targets, namely times. Meanwhile, alpine skiing is different in that the athlete needs to compete with either herself or himself.”

Muraoka competed in her first Paralympic Winter Games at only 16-years-old, which did not bring the results she was hoping for, placing fourth in the giant slalom.

Reflecting on Sochi 2014 and her hopes for the upcoming PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics, Japan’s top female sit-skier has already fixed a goal in her mind.

“My first Paralympic Games was in Sochi in 2014 in which I did not perform my best and I was regretful and frustrated. I want to forget my negative feelings about this by performing my best in PyeongChang2018. I wish to be myself in the performance in the Games.”

Before that Muraoka is hoping for a successful season in 2017, which will feature the next World Championships, and wants more than one podium finish.

“I wish to do my best to win several medals in the World Championship and PyeongChang2018,” she said.