Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira, who won the 500-meter gold medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics, will retire from competitive racing this weekend in her final national championship in Nagano, Japan.
Kodaira, the 36-year-old Nagano native, who is the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in speed skating, reflected on her career during a practice session on Thursday at the M-Wave Ice Arena.
“I’m thankful as a person who grew up in Shinshu,” Kodaira said, using an old name for the central Japanese city “I look forward to seeing the faces of spectators.”
From 2016 thru 2019 Kodaira reigned over the 500 and 1,000 meter speed skate events. In the 500 she had a unbeaten streak of over 37 consecutive races while garnering 34 World Cup wins in both the 500 and 1,000 meters.
Kodaira is the current world record holder in the 2×500 and 500 meters and the sprint combination, as well as the former world record holder in the 1,000 meters and team sprint.
In April, Kodaira announced her intention to retire in her hometown of Nagano.
“When I thought about how long life is, I didn’t want it to be only about speed skating. I felt that now was around the right time. I decided to draw the goal line for myself.
“There are several reasons but I wanted to race one last time while I still can physically. I wanted the last race to be at home in (the Shinshu region)”
“I’ve prepared my body well and come here with a hungry mentality,” Kodaira said. “I want to interact with the ice well until the end.”
Her 500m personal best of 36.47 is the second fastest of all time. During her incredible run from 2016 to 2019, Kodaira had 23 consecutive World Cup victories in the 500. She set an Olympic record and became the first woman to break the 37-second barrier at sea level.
Aside from her many accolades, Kodaira also orchestrated an indelible Olympic memory when she consoled friend and South Korean rival Lee Sang-hwa after she defeated the two-time defending champion in the 500m final in PyeongChang.
Lee and Kodaira, who were fierce rivals on the ice, are also friends. After Kodaira’s last race at the Beijing 2022 Games in Februrary, the now TV commentator Lee broke down in tears knowing it was Kodaira’s last Olympic 500m.
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