Top medal candidates on board as Ayumu Hirano named to Japan Olympic team

Snowboarder Ayumu Hirano, a candidate for the men's halfpipe gold at the Beijing Olympics, was named to Japan's team Wednesday, effectively bringing all of the nation's biggest medal prospects on board for the Feb. 4 to Feb. 20 event.Hirano joins a national team featuring two-time defending men's figure skate champion Yuzuru Hanyu, speed skater Miho Takagi, a gold-medal candidate in multiple events, and men's ski jumping World Cup leader Ryoyu Kobayashi.The Ski Association of Japan named Hirano and 45 others to fill out its 55-member squad. Among them were men's Nordic combined ace Akito Wa…READ FULL ARTICLE