TOKYO — Japanese
snowboarder Ayumu Hirano said Tuesday he wants to "express" himself
and "have no regrets" at next month's
Beijing Olympics as he prepares
to resume his rivalry with American legend Shaun White.
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Hirano finished second
behind three-time halfpipe gold medalist White in an epic encounter at the
2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, giving the Japanese rider silver for the second Games
running.
Now the dreadlocked
23-year-old is aiming for the top prize in Beijing, after becoming the first
rider to land the ultra-difficult triple cork trick in competition this season.
"I want to have no
regrets and make sure I give it everything I've got," said Hirano, who
also competed in skateboarding at last year's Tokyo Summer Olympics.
"I want to give a
performance I can be happy with and express myself. I want to express myself in
a way that only I can."
White will be competing at
his final Olympics after making the American team at the age of 35.
He edged Hirano after an
absorbing duel four years ago in Pyeongchang, and the Japanese rider said he is
"looking forward to locking horns" with his rival again.
"In Pyeongchang, there
was a lot of drama -- when you're up against someone it spurs you on, and I
think that came across," he said.
"He likes a challenge,
and I feel there are similarities between us in the way we feel and see
things."
Hirano finished second
behind Australian Scotty James at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado, last
weekend.
He landed his triple cork
but failed to complete his next jump.
Hirano's younger brother
Kaishu, who will also compete for Japan at the Beijing Games, took bronze.
"It's a very precious
thing to be able to go to the
Olympics with your brother," said the elder
Hirano.
"It will be a good
experience for him and I hope he gives it his all and does himself justice."
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