Kenki Sato

Background

He was born and raised in the secluded mountain village of Ogawa, in the temple compound Myōshō-ji (明松寺).

Career

At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the Individual eventing and reached 12th place. 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.

Kenki"s father Shōdō (佐藤 正道) is the abbot of the local temple and also an equestrian. In 2010, he joined the stable of German Olympic equestrian Dirk Schrade in order to prepare for the 2012 Summer Olympics.

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.

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. Kenki will thus continue to stay in Germany.

Achievements

• His sister Tae (佐藤 泰) is a five-time winner of national equestrian competitions. Since summer 2011 he has been training with 2012 Olympic gold medalist, European and world champion Michael Jung. Kenki competed in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, where he won a gold medal.

Membership

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.