Veteran Nordic combined skier Akito Watabe of Japan is content to savor the moment at his sixth Winter Olympics, even without a medal, as he prepares to bring one of the longest careers in the sport to a close.

The four-time Olympic medalist finished 11th in the normal hill competition, one minute 52 seconds behind winner Jens Luraas Oftebro. In the large hill event, he finished 19th, three minutes 20 seconds behind Luraas Oftebro, who won yet again. Watabe may compete again on Thursday, Feb. 19, in the team large hill event.

"It’s amazing," Watabe told Reuters after the normal hill event. "My hope was to get some medal here but it’s okay. I was enjoying this really nice atmosphere and my sixth Olympics."

Approaching the end of a career that has spanned nearly two decades at the top level, the 37-year-old athlete said his motivation had always been rooted in curiosity and enjoyment rather than results alone.

"I just keep going, keep going," he said. "I have high motivation for exploring my sport and the human body. It was fun to live in this sport and the sports world."

After winning individual and team bronze at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, plus normal hill silvers in Pyeongchang in 2018 and Sochi in 2014, Watabe confirmed that Milan Cortina 2026 will mark the final chapter of his competitive career.

He plans to take part in the last World Cup events of the season in Lahti, Finland, and Oslo, Norway, before stepping away from elite competition.

"Then I quit my sports career," he said. "I want to take time with my family and have some holidays."

Retirement, however, will not mean stepping away from skiing altogether. Watabe said he wanted to spend time back in Japan enjoying the mountains on his own terms.

"My hobby is backcountry skiing, backcountry Telemark skiing," he said. "I’m sure I will enjoy the spring snow in Japan."