佐藤　圭一

さとう・けいいち

競技:トライアスロン・バイアスロン・クロスカントリースキー

出身地：愛知県
所属: 無所属

 先天性形成不全による左手関節部欠損の障害を持って誕生した。競技を始めたきっかけは、19歳の時に長野パラリンピックで日本人選手の活躍を観て、自身も競技者として歩む決意をしました。しかし経済的にも厳しく一時は競技者としての道を諦めた時期もありましたが、競技に対する強い想いから勤めていた会社を辞め脱サラし2005年5月に1年間単身カナダへ。帰国後は数々の大会で経験と実績を積み2007年には念願の日本ナショナルチーム選手(B指定選手)へのメンバー入り。2010バンクーバー・2014ソチ・2018平昌パラリンピック出場も果たし、次の目標はW杯、2022北京パラリンピックでのメダル獲得。またトライアスロンにも挑戦！2016年リオ・デ・ジャネイロ夏季パラリンピック出場も果たし2024Parisパラリンピックへ向け夏季冬季パラリンピック連続出場を目指している。現在はサラリーマンとして完全リモートで仕事の業務をこなしながら競技も続けトリプルキャリアのロールモデルとして、デュアル・キャリア・アスリートとして活躍中！

Nickname                                     Kurokan Oji [Prince of Cross-country], Biath Oji [Prince of Biathlon]. (satokeiichi.com, 16 Mar 2014)

Hobbies                                        Climbing, cycling. (satokeiichi.com, 14 May 2016)

OccupationAthleteLanguages spoken English, Japanese, Russian

Club name                                   Salesforce.com [Japan]    [national], JPN (japanteam.jp,

13 Dec 2017)Other sportsHe competed in cross-country skiing at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 and 2014. He also represented Japan in triathlon at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (Athlete, 03 Sep 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 16 Mar 2014)Debut2007 for Japan, in Germany (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018)InjuriesIn 2011 he sustained knee injuries. (japanteam.jp, 11 Apr 2011)

In 2009 he injured the lateral meniscus in both of his knees. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2014)National team2008 (satokeiichi.com, 14 May 2016)StartHe took up the sport in 2005 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018, 10 Feb 2014)ReasonHe was inspired to try the sport by a newspaper article about Yoshihiro Nitta's participation in the 1998 Paralympic Winter Games in Nagano. He also wanted to take on the challenge of seeing how strong he could be. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018; asahi.com, 03 Feb 2010)AmbitionTo win a medal at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and to compete in triathlon at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (para-sports.tokyo, 11 Feb 2017; Twitter profile, 30 Aug 2016)TrainingHe competes in both Para triathlon and Para biathlon, and believes the training sessions for each sport complement each other. He particularly finds that swimming helps him to build up physical strength in his upper limbs. He trains for a maximum of 10 hours a day. (fujitv.co.jp, 20 Sep 2017; para-sports.tokyo, 11 Feb 2017)Memorable AchievementCompeting at the Paralympic Winter Games in 2010 and 2014, and qualifying for the 2016 Paralympic Games. (Athlete, 03 Sep 2016)HeroNorwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018)InfluenceNorwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjorndalen. (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018)Philosophy"Be brave." (Facebook profile, 22 Jan 2017)AwardsIn 2014 he received the Aichi Prefecture Para Sport Award for Encouragement in Japan. (pref.aichi.jp, 12 May 2014)

In 2012 he received the Aichi Prefecture Para Sport Award. (Athlete, 10 Feb 2014)

In 2010 he received the Aichi Prefecture Para Sport Excellence Award. (sp.plus-blog.sportsnavi.com, 28 Apr 2010)Additional informationClassificationLW8 (IPC, 18 Feb 2018 Cross Country Ski.Biathlon)

PTS5 (PARA Triathlon)

Type of ImpairmentLimb deficiency (Athlete, 10 Feb 2014)

Origin of ImpairmentCongenital (Athlete, 09 Mar 2018)

Impairment DetailsHe has a congenital impairment to his left hand, due to hypoplasia. (Athlete, 03 Sep 2016)