Kenki Sato

Kenki Sato (佐藤 賢希, Satō Kenki; born 11 July 1984 in Ogawa, Nagano prefecture, Japan is a Japanese equestrian. At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the Individual eventing and reached 12th place.

Personal life

Kenki is a member of a Japanese family of equestrians and Buddhist priests. He was born and raised in the secluded mountain village of Ogawa, in the temple compound Myōshō-ji (明松寺). A Buddhist priest himself, Kenki later studied law at Meiji University, Tokyo.

Family Tradition

Kenki has been riding horses since he was seven years old. During his childhood, his home village was very isolated and largely inaccessible by car. Most transportation was done by horse.[1] Kenki's father Shōdō (佐藤 正道) is the abbot of the local temple and also an equestrian. He was nominated as a member of Japan's equestrian team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but was unable to compete due to the boycott of the games by Japan. Most members of the Sato family are internationally competing equestrians. Kenki's brother Eiken (英賢), also a priest, was a member of Japan's equestrian team of the 2008 Summer Olympics. His sister Tae (佐藤 泰) is a five-time winner of national equestrian competitions.[2]

Equestrian career

Kenki passed on the opportunity to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in order to complete his ordination as a zen priest.

In 2010, he joined the stable of German Olympic equestrian Dirk Schrade in order to prepare for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[1] Since summer 2011 he has been training with 2012 Olympic gold medalist, European and world champion Michael Jung. Kenki's wife Kiyo has moved to Germany with her husband, where she takes care of his horses Chippieh and Toy Boy.[1][3]

Kenki competed in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, where he won a gold medal.[4]

At the 2012 Summer Olympics he reached 15th place with his horse Chippieh after the dressage portion. During the cross-country portion however, his horse fell, ending the competition for Kenki. Japan ultimately reached 12th place overall.[5][6]

Kenki had stated that after the 2012 games he is planning to stay in Germany until winter and to return to Japan afterwards. According to Michael Jung's father however, these plans have changed:

Kenki cried bitter tears in the stable afterwards. The next day his parents, who had come to London, visited me and asked if Kenki would be allowed to stay as Michael's pupil, under the prospect of the 2014 World Championships and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

— "

Kenki will thus continue to stay in Germany.[7][8]

References
  1. abendzeitung-muenchen.de: Kurios: Buddhistischer Mönch bei Olympia, 11 July 2012, German language, retrieved 26 July 2012
  2. down.com: Olympics: Meditating Buddhist monk saddles up for London, 10 July, retrieved 26 July 2012
  3. schwarzwaelder-bote.de: Reitender Mönch lebt Traum in Altheim, vom 4 May 2012, German language, retrieved 26 July 2012
  4. zimbo.com: Kenki Sato, retrieved 26 July 2012
  5. "Individual Ratings". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
  6. Team Ratings Archived 12 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  7. Olympiasieger Michael Jung: Alltag statt Afrikareise, Thomas Borgmann / Stuttgarter Zeitung, 1. August 2012
  8. Sandra Auffahrt und Michi Jung in der Dopingprobe, reitturniere.de, 31. Juli 2012
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