Although Japan achieved a record-breaking 58 medals at the Tokyo Olympics, expectations for Paris are lower. The absence of seasoned champions, the ban of karate from the Olympics, and the recent expulsion of a promising gymnast due to intoxication and smoking have all dashed expectations.
Despite these losses, Team Japan is determined to outperform its all-time best result when competing abroad, displaying tenacity and drive in the face of difficulties.
According to a recent Nielsen’s Gracenote estimate, Japan would win 11 fewer medals in Paris, more than cutting their total number of gold medals from 27 to 13. Senior Japan Olympic Committee official Mitsugi Ogata, speaking to local media, expressed Japan’s continued optimism and stated that the country wants to win 20 titles.
The home crowd advantage and higher athlete representation of host nations usually translate into success at the Olympics. Despite COVID-19 keeping spectators away, Japan pulled through in 2021. In contrast to prior hosts, Japan might perform differently in the future.
Predictions indicate that Japan is unlikely to win medals in Paris from its fourth and fifth-place finishes in Tokyo. Japan might not receive a comparable boost as Brazil did in Tokyo with a smaller team, while Britain did not benefit from a reduction in athletes. Brazil gained medals at Rio 2016.
Japan’s Paris 2024 contingent is smaller than at Tokyo 2020
Japan, which placed third behind the United States and China in Tokyo with 552 competitors, will only send 409 participants to Paris. Although Gracenote projects that Japan would finish seventh in Paris, their anticipated 47 medals would still be their second-best finish ever and their greatest result abroad.
Shoko Miyata, 19, the prospective captain of the women’s artistic gymnastics team, will be absent. She was sent home last week for smoking, which is against the team’s conduct rule.