Veteran ski jumper Masahiko Harada, a member of Japan's gold medal-winning team at the 1998 Nagano Olympic Games, will retire after the current season, the Ski Association of Japan said Wednesday.
Harada, 37, will end his competitive career at a March 24-25 meet in Sapporo, a month after his fifth Olympics ended in disappointment at the Turin Games.
He will hold a press conference next Monday. Harada, who is popular in Japan for his affable personality, is one of the country's most successful ski jumpers, having represented Japan for five straight Olympics, beginning with the 1992 Albertville Games, and won one individual and two team event medals.