BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 9 -- Often compared to legendary gymnast Kohei Uchimura, Japan's Takeru Kitazono has every right to feel under pressure.
But the 15-year-old gives the impression that nothing can fluster him as he strives for gold at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
"I am really happy that people are talking about me like this, that they call me the second generation of Kohei," the 15-year-old said of the comparisons with his famous compatriot. "I don't feel any extra pressure, but of course I know people expect me to do well."
Kohei Uchimura is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. The 29-year-old has won three Olympic gold medals and 10 world titles during a distinguished artistic gymnastics career that began in 2007.
Kitazono said Uchimura served as an inspiration and role model as he attempts to carve out his own successful senior career, starting with the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"He certainly is a role model for me, I look up to him," Kitazono said. "One day I want to follow in his footsteps. But I have a long way to go."
Kitazono began his quest for glory in Buenos Aires by finishing first in the pommel horse qualification on Sunday. He said he is relishing the chance to perform on a big stage for the first time.
"The venue is really big and I never competed in an arena this big before," he said. "It gave me some nerves when we marched in, but as soon as I started to compete they were all gone.
"If you're nervous during a competition, it means that you haven't trained enough. The best way to avoid that mental stress is just to keep on training every day. Now I just hope all my hard work will pay off, as I really want to enjoy that feeling of satisfaction."
The teenager took up the sport at the age of three after his mother gave in to his requests to be taken to a local gymnastics club.
"I saw it and thought, 'I want to go there'," he said. "My mum enrolled me in some gymnastics classes. Since I was little I had the dream to compete at big events."
Just being in Buenos Aires represents a triumph of sorts for Kitazono, who almost didn't qualify for the competition due to an injury.
"I fractured my ankle after a bad landing during training back in 2017," he said. "I still struggled with it at our national trials for the Youth Olympic Games, but it feels better now. It feels good to be here and I hope I leave Buenos Aires with a good feeling.
"Gymnastics is my life, I am really enjoying it. To be honest, there is no me, myself without artistic gymnastics. Of course my main goal is Tokyo 2020, but I am seeing this as a huge opportunity. A first big step towards the main goal: winning gold in Tokyo. If I can win at Buenos Aires 2018, I can win in Tokyo."?