On April 12, Beijing time, Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira held a press conference in Nagano, Japan, announcing that he would end his career after the Japan National Speed Skating Championships in October this year.
Screenshot of The Kyodo News Agency of Japan.
The 36-year-old Nao Kodaira reached the peak of her career at the age of 32 when she competed in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, winning the 500m gold medal, becoming the first Japanese female athlete to win a speed skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics. In addition, Nao Kodaira has won the speed skating all-around World Championships short distance twice, the Women's 500m World Championships twice, and a total of 34 times on the top podium of the World Cup (women's 500m and 1000m).
Nao Kodaira at the Beijing Winter Olympics in the women's 500m. Beijing Daily client reporter Deng Wei photographed
"The last race of my career will be the women's 500m at the National Championships in October this year." Naomi Kohata said this at the press conference. According to Kyodo News Agency, the Japan National Speed Skating Championships will be held in Nagano from October 22 to 24 this year, "I want to compete again when I am in good health, and I also hope that the last game of my career will be played in my hometown." ”
Japan's Kyodo News Agency said that Nao Kodaira is one of the country's most influential speed skaters, making her Olympic debut at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and participating in four Winter Olympics since the Beijing Winter Olympics in February this year. However, due to an ankle injury, Nao Kodaira did not play well at the Beijing Winter Olympics, finishing 10th in the 1000 meters and only 17th in the 500 meters.
Naomi Kodaira thanked the "Ice Ribbon" volunteers and staff with Chinese.
It is worth mentioning that after the Beijing Winter Olympics, Xiaoping Naixu specially wrote a thank-you letter to the staff and volunteers of the "Ice Ribbon" of the National Speed Skating Hall with a special Chinese, which also made many Chinese and Japanese netizens praise.
For her life after retirement, Kohatai has not yet made a final decision, she said that she will seriously prepare for the October competition and actively participate in community activities, "Although I have not yet thought about what to do after retiring, I hope to do some work related to youth speed skating." ”