OLYMPIC DIGEST | Speed Skating: Japan Reaches Team Pursuit Semifinals

Japan advanced to the women's speed skating team pursuit semifinals with a solid showing at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Saturday night, February 14.

Racing in tandem, Miho Takagi, Ayano Sato and Momoka Horikawa teamed up for the second-best time of the eight quarterfinal participants, wrapping up their 2,400-meter race against China in 2 minutes, 55.52 seconds.

Canada is ranked No 1 following the quarterfinals after clocking 2:55.03 in its showdown with Belgium. The Netherlands had the third-fastest times in the quarterfinals (2:55.65).

On Tuesday, the semifinals and final will be held at the Milan Cortina Olympics, starting at 10:55 PM JST. Japan will face the Netherlands in the semifinals, and Canada will square off against the United States.

During the six-lap team pursuit quarterfinals, Japan was the faster team throughout its race against China. It started with a tone-setting 59.55 seconds for the first two laps.

"I wanted us to advance in first place, but that didn't happen," Takagi said, according to Sports Hochi. "My final movement was off, and slowing down too much affected the result. The start and initial pace were perfect, so I feel frustrated."

Veteran star Takagi said her team should focus on its own performance instead of dwelling on its opponent.

"How well we skate doesn't change based on who we face," Takagi was quoted as saying by the sports publication. "I'm not particularly concerned [about the opponent]. I want to approach it with a strong mindset."

Aiming for More Success in Speed Skating

Coming off a silver medal-winning effort at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Japan has even greater aspirations for the Winter Games in Italy.

Miho Takagi and Sato return from the team pursuit squad in '22. Nana Takagi, Miho's older sister was on that team, too, but she has since retired.

Horikawa, 22, was a first-time Olympian in 2022, finishing 10th in the women's 5,000. She helped Japan place second in the team pursuit event at the 2025 world championships in Norway.

According to comments published in various news reports, the team sees room for improvement in the semifinals. For instance, Sato noted that there was a breakdown in the trio's coordinated movement in the latter stages of the quarterfinals.

"I couldn't properly push and support Miho-san," Sato said, referring to her on-ice speed, according to Jiji Press.

In 2018, Japan won the gold medal in women's team pursuit at the Pyeongchang Games.

Shinhama 6th, Morishige 10th in Men's 500

American star Jordan Stolz won the men's 500-meter speed skating title on Saturday, completing his race in 33.77 seconds, an Olympic record.

The Netherlands' Jenning deBoo was second in 33.88 seconds, followed by Canada's Laurent Dubreuil in 34.26.

Japan's Tatsuya Shinhama and Wataru Morishige finished sixth and 10th, respectively, in 34.466 and 34.62. Teammate Katsuhiro Kuratsubo was 19th out of 29 participants.

Shinhama placed 20th in this event at the 2022 Olympics.

Morishige, who was the bronze medalist in China, admitted he wasn't at his best on this day.

"The feeling while skating wasn't that [far] off," Morishige said, according to Sankei Sports. "I'm wondering why the time didn't come through. [And] I'm frustrated with myself for not performing at this level."

Morishige continued: "I skated with everything I had until I crossed the final line; I think delivering thorough results is the most important thing, but I believe I was able to show that spirit, at least a little."

Freestyle Skiing

Tomitaka Announces Retirement After Exit From Dual Moguls Quarterfinals

Hinako Tomitaka was beaten in the quarterfinals of the women's dual moguls on Saturday in Livigno.

The 25-year-old didn't complete the race after stumbling following one of her aerial maneuvers. Elizabeth Lemley of the United States went on to win the race and later earned the bronze medal. Australia's Jakara Anthony snatched the gold, with Team USA's Jaelin Kauf claiming the silver.

Tomitaka announced her retirement after the competition concluded.

"I decided these four years would be my last, so even though I didn't reach the medal in the end, I gave it my all," the 25-year-old was quoted as saying by Sport Hochi. "I have no regrets. Right now, I feel refreshed."

Earlier in the week, Tomitaka placed fourth in the moguls, missing the bronze by 0.2 points on a tiebreaker.

*Japan's Anna Ohmiya watches the movement of a stone in a women's round robin session match against the United States on February 14 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (©Jennifer Lorenzini/REUTERS)*

Curling

Japan Women Slip to 1-3 in Olympic Tournament

Saturday started with Team Japan's first triumph of the ongoing women's curling tournament at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

But by the end of the day, skip Sayaka Yoshimura's squad picked up its third loss in four matches.

Japan defeated Switzerland 7-5 in the earlier match.

The Swiss led 4-3 after the sixth end, and the Japanese rallied with two points in the seventh end, one more in the eighth (on a Yoshimura double take-out) and a final point in the 10th.

Later Saturday, the United States recorded a 7-4 victory over Japan.

*Japan teammates Anna Ohmiya (left) and Kaho Onodera in action against the United States. (©Jennifer Lorenzini/REUTERS)*

The Americans scored three points in the eighth end to take a commanding 7-3 advantage.

Yoshimura rued her subpar performance.

"Up until the middle stages, we were able to build a good rhythm, but our opponents were also making solid shots," Yoshimura said, according to Kyodo News. "Then in the [eighth end], my draw went long and we gave up points there. That allowed the momentum to shift."

The US completed the match with an 84% shot success rate, while Japan shot 78%.

After the loss to the US, Japan was set to play five more preliminary round matches, including one against South Korea on Sunday.

In Cortina d'Ampezzo, women's curling action continues until February 22, the final day of the Olympics. The semifinals begin on Friday, February 20.