Speed Skating: Japan Finishes 3rd in Women's Team Pursuit

Determination and a singular focus carried Japan to an impressive victory in the Olympic women's speed skating team pursuit's bronze-medal race.

Team Japan completed the six-lap race at Milano Speed Skating Stadium in 2 minutes, 58.50 seconds on Tuesday, February 17.

Miho Takagi, Ayano Sato and Hana Noake maintained their fast pace throughout the race. They led after every lap and beat the United States (Brittany Bowe, Mia Manganello and Greta Myers) by 3.50 seconds.

With the win, Japan claimed its third speed skating bronze medal of the ongoing Milan Cortina Olympics. Takagi, who has amassed 10 Olympic medals in her career, was third in the 1,000 and the 500.

In addition, women's team pursuit produced a notable feat on this night: Japan collected its 19th overall medal at the 2026 Olympics, surpassing the nation's previous record medal haul of 18, which was set at the 2022 Beijing Games.

Canada defeated the Netherlands in the final to capture the gold medal and repeat as Olympic champion. The winning time: 2:55.81.

Japan has now medaled in three straight Winter Games in team pursuit. At the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, it won the gold, followed by a runner-up finish in 2022 in Beijing.

Speed Skating Showdown: Team Japan vs Team USA

With a bronze medal up for grabs on Tuesday night, Japan raced out to a nearly 1-second advantage after the first lap. Takagi and her teammates completed the lap in 32.44 seconds. Team USA skated the opening lap in 33.28.

At the midway point of the race, Japan's time was 1:29.24 to the Americans' 1:29.92.

When the race was finished, three-time Olympian Sato said earning a bronze medal was a satisfying accomplishment.

"Rather than finishing with regret, I wanted to finish with smiles," the 29-year-old Sato told reporters. "It is also the last time for this team to skate together. Having a medal at the Olympic Games is completely different from not having one. After winning gold and silver at Pyeongchang and Beijing, I can feel proud to have added a bronze as well."

Looking ahead, Sato also acknowledged that she and Takagi, who is 31, have taken pride in their role as mentors to the speed skating squad's younger members. Horikawa is 22, and Noake is 21.

"The youngsters next to me (Noake and Horikwawa) have shown tremendous growth," Sato said. "We have taught them everything we know, and as seasons go by, I hope their knowledge will deepen, so they can pass on that knowledge, too."

A Down-to-the-Wire Finish in the Semifinals

In the team pursuit semifinals, the Netherlands edged Japan by 0.11 seconds.

Takagi and Sato teamed up with Momoka Horikawa for the race.

With 200 meters remaining, Japan held a 0.18-second lead over the Dutch (Joy Beune, Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong and Marijke Groenewoud).

Then the Netherlands found an extra gear to close out the race, clocking 2:55.84 and advancing to the gold-medal race. Japan reached the finish line in 2:55.95.

After the Dutch squad's narrow victory, Takagi expressed disappointment in her performance.

"We've climbed this far, but I think we lost because I have not amassed enough experience as the pace-setter over the past four years," Takagi was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "It was more about my lack of ability than the team."

speeed skating — *From left, Japan's Ayano Sato, Hana Noake and Miho Takagi in action during the women's team pursuit third-place race. (©SANKEI)*

Securing a Medal

Beating the Dutch to reach the gold-medal match was Japan's first goal on Tuesday.

When that didn't happen, the team had to quickly refresh its mindset and prepare for another race. And racing against the Americans exhibited the talent and cohesiveness of the Japanese squad.

"I'm very frustrated that we couldn't beat the Netherlands," Sato said, according to Kyodo News. "I felt I gave 100% in that race, but looking at the gap, it left me feeling we didn't push enough."

Sato then said, "But we didn't have time to dwell on it, a fresh Noake came in, a skater with ability, when Miho and I were really feeling fatigued. I thought we could get the medal if we kept our cool and raced as normal, and that's what we managed to do."