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Canada’s athletes in Sochi: Meet ski jumper Atsuko Tanaka

Atsuko Tanaka of Canada soars in the air during the World Cup women's ski jumping in Sapporo in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on February 2, 2013.
Atsuko Tanaka of Canada soars in the air during the World Cup women's ski jumping in Sapporo in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on February 2, 2013. TAKASHI NOGUCHI/AFP/Getty Images

Sport: Ski jumping

Age: 22

Hometown: Calgary, Alta.

Accomplishments:

  • 2006 World Junior Silver Medallist.
  • Two-time Continental Cup winner.
  • 4th place finish on World Cup circuit in January 2014.
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Interesting Fact: She represented Japan on the world stage from 2010 to 2012 in order to be able to go to college there. She studied sports leadership and learned a lot about ski jumping technique in school.

Chances: Considered Canada’s top female ski jumper, Tanaka is coming off of her best World Cup finish (4th). She is not considered a medal favourite but could surprise people in Sochi.

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