Father-son duo make history: five-time Asian Games champion Shigenobu Murofushi and Olympic gold medalist son Koji light boiler in Aichi-Nagoya

Father Shigenobu Murofushi and son Koji Murofushi (Reuters photo) A father and son who built their legacy in the hammer throw shared one of the biggest moments of the Asian Games opening ceremony on Saturday.Japan’s Shigenobu Murofushi and his son Koji Murofushi lit the cauldron together at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya and led the torch relay to a memorable end.Both Shigenobu and Koji are former Asian Games hammer throw champions. Together, the duo ascended the stairs to the stage before lighting the cauldron.The ceremony included dancing, music and fireworks as the Asian Games officially opened in Aichi-Nagoya.

From an Olympic champion to a father-son moment

The lighting of the cauldron was the final part of the relay, which involved some of Japan’s biggest sporting names.Female wrestler Fujinami Akari brought the torch into the stadium and passed it to four-time Olympic swimming champion Kitajima Kosuke.The torch then went to Ito Koji, a three-time gold medalist in athletics at the Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998. Takahashi Ayaka, the women’s doubles badminton winner from the 2016 Rio Olympics, was next.

Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters photo)

The torch was then passed to Koji Murofushi, the 2004 Athens Olympic hammer throw winner.The last torch bearer was his father Shigenobu Murofushi, who won the hammer throw title five times in a row at the Asian Games.The two then came together to light the cauldron, which had a metal design inspired by the shape of a heart.

Who is Shigenobu Murofushi?

Shigenobu Murofushi is one of Japan’s most successful hammersmiths. He competed in three Olympic Games — Munich 1972, Montreal 1976 and Los Angeles 1984.He also served as Japan’s flag bearer at the 1984 Olympics.Murofushi initially tried sumo and shot put before taking up the hammer throw. He set a Japanese record of 75.96 m in 1984. This mark remained the national record until his son Koji broke it in 1998.Shigenobu won the hammer throw gold medal at the Asian Games in 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982 and 1986. He also won silver in 1966.His medal record at the Asian Games includes five gold medals and one silver.He also won gold at the 1979 and 1981 Asian Championships.

Shigenobu’s Olympic journey

While Shigenobu dominated the Asian Games, an Olympic medal remained out of reach.He finished eighth at the Olympic Games in Munich 1972, eleventh in Montreal 1976 and fifteenth in Los Angeles 1984.His son later achieved what he could not in the Olympics.

Koji Murofushi followed in his father’s footsteps

Koji began throwing the hammer at the age of 10 under the guidance of his father.He became one of the leading hammermen in the world. Koji won a silver medal at the 2001 World Championships before taking bronze in 2003.His biggest Olympic moment came at the 2004 Athens Games, where he won the gold medal in the hammer throw.He added Olympic bronze at the 2012 London Games.Koji also became world champion in 2011 in Daegu.

Shigenobu Murofushi and Koji Murofushi (Reuters photo)

Koji’s Asian Games medal record

Koji continued his family’s success at the Asian Games.He won gold in the hammer throw in Bangkok in 1998 and Busan in 2002. He previously won silver in Hiroshima in 1994.Thus, his record at the Asian Games includes two gold medals and one silver.Koji also won gold at the 2002 Asian Championships and three silver medals at the 1993, 1995 and 1998 Continental Championships.

The family legacy is coming to an end

Murofushi have now added another special chapter to their long sporting legacy.Shigenobu dominated the Asian Games in the 1970s and 1980s. Koji followed him into action and later became Olympic and World Champion.On Saturday, father and son stood together at the center of the Asian Games opening ceremony — not to compete, but to light the flame that officially opened the Games.

A glittering opening ceremony

The 20th Asian Games officially began in Nagoya with a two-hour opening ceremony at the Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium. Japan’s Emperor Naruhito officially declared the games open. The ceremony was also attended by Empress Masako, members of the Japanese Imperial Family, Olympic Council of Asia President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry.The event began with the Japanese national anthem and the raising of the national flag. Nine members of the Japan Self-Defense Forces carried the flag onto the stage before it was raised.The stadium then went dark and the spotlight focused on the Japanese flag.The ceremony was followed by a parade of athletes. Teams from 45 countries and regions participated, along with the OCA Refugee Team, bringing the total number of participating delegations to 46.