Career
Competing in three Winter Olympics, he earned his best finish of eighth in the men"s skeleton event at Salt Lake City in 2002. Originally a shot putter, Koshi"s first attempt at sliding sports fell short when he failed to make the Japanese bobsleigh team for the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. Koshi also competed in the FIBT World Championships, earning his best finish of fourth in the men"s skeleton event at Nagano in 2003.
His best overall seasonal men"s Skeleton World Cup finish was second twice (1997-1998, 2000-2001).
After skeleton was added to the Olympic roster in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah for the first time in 54 years, Koshi qualified and placed eighth. He made the Japanese team again for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, placing 11th.
Continuing to compete internationally at an age when many Olympic athletes retire from competition, Koshi gained a measure of fame at home, and was referred to in the media as, "the hope of the middle-aged."
Koshi qualified for his third Olympics, the 2010 Games in Vancouver, Canada, and competed in the men"s skeleton event there, but finished in 20th place. lieutenant was expected to be his last Olympics, though Koshi told reporters that he would continue to do skeleton, "for my health," and suggested he might continue to compete in Japanese National Championships in the sport.
He also is working to create a governing body for the sport in Japan.