Japanese skaters did great job!!

The PyeongChang Olympics has finished.

At first, there wasn't much momentum in Japan. However, because Japanese athletes were wining more medals than expected, in the end, Japanese people are getting quite excited.

Of special note was, in my opinion, the Ladies' Speed Skating.

In the Ladies' 1,500m at 12th,
Miho Takagi won the SILVER medal.
My article;
https://mytokyoolympics.blogspot.jp/2018/02/a-flurry-of-good-news-in-only-hour.html

(Miho Takagi at the flower ceremony

sandwiched in between the Gold and Bronze medalists from Speed Skating superpower the Netherlands)

(from https://www.jiji.com)

Just 2 days later, in the Ladies' 1,000m,
Nao Kodaira won the SILVER, Miho Takagi won the BRONZE.
Podiums of the Speed Skating are always occupied by Dutch skaters. So it was impressive that 2 Japaneses were there.

(Left: Nao Kodaira, Right: Miho Takagi

at the medal ceremony)

(from http://www.yomiuri.co.jp)

Then, the moment which I wrote in the previous article as the happiest moment, came.
In the Ladies's 500m, Nao Kodaira won the GOLD medal with breaking the Olympics records. She got the 2 medals, Gold in the 500m and Silver in the 1,000m at this Olympics.

My article;
https://mytokyoolympics.blogspot.jp/2018/02/the-happiest-moment-nao-kodairas-gold.html

She is great as an athlete needless to say, and above all, her personality is excellent. Whenever I hear about what she speaks in the interviews, my feeling of respect for her is increasing.


It's far from over.

In the Ladies' Team Pursuit, Japan team got the GOLD medal defeating the Netherlands! It was a sweeping victory.

(from left; Ayaka Kikuchi, Ayano Sato, Nana Takagi, Miho Takagi)

(from www.huffingtonpost.jp)

Miho Takagi ended up gertting 3 medals, Gold, Silver and Bronze!


Finally, Nana Takagi won the gold medal in the Ladies Mass Start.
The Mass Start is a new competition in the Olympics and I was not sure about the rule and how strong Japan was. But I was very excited at Nana's tactics and the last-minute boost.

(Nana's wining run)

(from http://www.sankei.com)

Takagi sisters (Nana and Miho) got 5 medals in this Olympics!!

(Left: Older sister, Nana with GOLD and GOLD

Right: Younger sister, Miho with GOLD, SIVER and BRONZE)

(from https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp)

Those achievements of the Japanese women skaters are thanks largely to their Dutch coach Johann David.
He has coached the Japanese skaters not only on the technique and the way of training etc. but also on their mental side.

(Johann and the Pursuit members just after they won the gold medal)

(from https://www.nikkansports.com)