Miho Takagi in a February 2022 file photo. (©SANKEI)
Ten-time Olympic medalist Miho Takagi has announced that she'll wrap up her stellar career at the 2026 ISU Speed Skating World Championships.
The 31-year–old revealed her retirement plans via an Instagram post on Wednesday, March 4, a day before the start of the world championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
"I'm really happy to skate the world [allround] in Thialf! Takagi wrote, referencing the name of the venue. It is one of [my] big dreams to skate the tournament there. And it will be my last competition."
She continued: "I will miss you all. But also, it's amazing to skate the last race in this situation. I'd like to say 'thank you' and 'goodbye' to everyone.
"But firstly, I will enjoy every moment and fight hard until crossing the finish line."
Takagi, who has claimed more Olympic medals than any Japanese female athlete, is scheduled to compete on Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8. The allround is a dynamic showcase for top speed skaters. Women compete in races covering 500, 1,000, 1,500, 3,000, and 5,000 meters to determine the overall champion.
A Career of Success for Miho Takagi
Miho Takagi made her Olympic debut at age 15 at the 2010 Vancouver Games. She made additional Olympic appearances in 2018, 2022 and in February 2026 in Italy.
The Hokkaido Prefecture native has earned two Olympic gold medals (team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and women's 1,000 at the 2022 Beijing Games). She also collected four silver and four bronze medals between 2018 and '26.
On the ISU Speed Skating World Cup circuit, Takagi also excelled for years, becoming a perennial winner of the women's 1,500-meter title.
In March 2025, she also won her second consecutive 1,000-meter title at the ISU World Speed Skating Single Distances Championships in Norway.
RELATED:
- With Impressive Medal Tally, Olympic Squad's Talent on Display
- ODDS and EVENS | For Miho Takagi, Winning Medals is the Hallmark of Her Outstanding Career
Soccer
Japan Beats Taiwan in Women's Asian Cup Opener
Nadeshiko Japan opened its Women's Asian Cup campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Group C foe Taiwan on Wednesday, March 4.
Momoko Tanikawa scored in the 61st minute to break a scoreless tie in Perth, Australia, and teammate Kiko Seike extended the lead on a header in second-half injury time.
Tanikawa, 20, plies her craft in Germany for Bayern Munich's women's club. Seike is a member of the Women's Super League squad Brighton & Hove Albion in Britain.
In the one-sided match, Japan dominated with 30 shots against Taiwan's zero. The victors also had 89.5% possession, the Australian Associated Press reported.
Japan returns to action against India on Saturday, March 7. On March 10, Japan takes on Vietnam. Both matches are set to be played in Perth.
The 12-team Women's Asian Cup, being held in three Australian cities, began on March 1 and runs through March 21.
China is the reigning champion.
Nadeshiko Japan won back-to-back tournament titles in 2014 and '18.
Judo
Abe, Sone Among Japan's Winners in Tashkent
Japanese judoka won four gold medals at the International Judo Federation's Tashkent Grand Slam, which wrapped up on Sunday, March 1, in the Uzbek capital.
Two-time Olympic champion Hifumi Abe, a generational star in the 66-kilogram division, was Japan's lone weight class winner on the men's side.
Kokoro Fujishiro (52-kg division), Narumi Takahashi (63 kg), and Akira Sone (heavyweight) were victorious in the women's competition.
It was a noteworthy title for Sone, who was an Olympic gold medalist in 2021 and a seventh-place finisher at the Paris Games in 2024, on Sunday. She earned her first Judo Grand Slam title since her victory in Tokyo in 2022.
"My [left] knee injury had kept me away, but [my condition] is definitely moving in the right direction," Sone, 25, was quoted as saying by The Nishinippon Shimbun.
Sone's primary focus in 2026 is returning to the top at the World Judo Championships in Baku in October.
"I will strive daily to win another gold medal," the two-time over 78-kg world titlist told the newspaper.
Japan finished with 14 medals, including three silver and seven bronze, to lead all nations competing in Tashkent.
Azerbaijan also had a strong overall performance, earning four gold medals, one silver and two bronze. Uzbekistan collected one gold, three silver and four bronze.
The IJF World Tour continues with its next Grand Slam meet on March 6-8 in Linz, Austria.
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Golf
Yamashita is 5th in Latest World Rankings
LPGA Tour golfer Miyuu Yamashita is Japan's top-ranked player in the latest Rolex Women's World Rankings, which were released on Monday, March 2.
Yamashita remains No 5 on the rankings chart.
Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul is ranked first, followed by Nelly Korda of the United States, England's Charley Hull and Australia's Minjee Lee.
Japan's Mao Saigo dropped from 11th to 12th.
Rio Takeda and Nasa Hataoka, who are 16th and 17th, respectively, also slipped one spot in the rankings.
The previous weekly rankings were released on February 23.
Matsuyama Remains 12th in Men's World Rankings
In the men's world rankings published on March 1, Japan's Hideki Matsuyama maintained his position as the nation's top-ranked player at No 12.
PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy and American Tommy Fleetwood occupy the top three spots.
Track and Field
Takele Defends Tokyo Marathon Title
Ethiopian runner Tadese Takele finished first in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday, March 1.
Takele completed the race in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 37 seconds to win the Tokyo Marathon for the second consecutive year.
For Japan, Suguru Osaka had the best result, placing 12th in 2:05:59.
Kenya's Brigid Kosgei completed the race in 2:14:29, a course record for women.
Ai Hosoda was Japan's top female runner with a 10th-place finish (2:23:39).
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed's [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
