Most decorated Japanese female Olympian
Miho Takagi
Speed skating star Miho Takagi retired as Japan's most decorated female Olympian with 10 medals, including the 1,000-meter gold at the 2022 Games in Beijing as well as the team pursuit gold in 2018 in Pyeongchang.
The 31-year-old from Hokkaido, who made her Olympics debut at 15 at the 2010 Vancouver Games but missed the 2014 Games in Sochi, amassed the 10th of Japan's 100 total Winter Olympics medals to date over the next three games.
This photo collection looks back on her decorated career, including the first Japanese win in 2018 at the all-round world championships, regarded as the sport's most prestigious title which combines results of the 500, 1,500, 3,000 and 5,000-meter races, and the moment she set the 1,500 world record of 1 minute, 49.83 seconds in 2019.
Miho Takagi (L), a 15-year-old speed skater, and Mao Asada, a 19-year-old figure skater, shake hands during a ceremony to launch the Japanese delegation for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010.
Miho Takagi (L), a 15-year-old speed skater, and Mao Asada, a 19-year-old figure skater, shake hands during a ceremony to launch the Japanese delegation for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010.
Japan's Miho Takagi reacts after finishing 35th in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010.
Japan's Miho Takagi reacts after finishing 35th in the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010.
Japan's Miho Takagi celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 12, 2018.
Japan's Miho Takagi celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 12, 2018.
Japan's silver medalist Nao Kodaira (R) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi pose for a photo after the women's speed skating 1,000 meters medal ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 15, 2018.
Japan's silver medalist Nao Kodaira (R) and bronze medalist Miho Takagi pose for a photo after the women's speed skating 1,000 meters medal ceremony at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 15, 2018.
File photo shows (from R) Miho Takagi, Nana Takagi, Ayano Sato and Ayaka Kikuchi celebrate after winning the women's speed skating team pursuit at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 21, 2018.
File photo shows (from R) Miho Takagi, Nana Takagi, Ayano Sato and Ayaka Kikuchi celebrate after winning the women's speed skating team pursuit at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, on Feb. 21, 2018.
Miho Takagi (C) poses for a photo alongside runner-up Ireen Wust (L) and third-place Annouk van der Weijden, both of the Netherlands, after becoming the first Japanese winner of the speed skating world allround championships in Amsterdam on March 11, 2018.
Miho Takagi (C) poses for a photo alongside runner-up Ireen Wust (L) and third-place Annouk van der Weijden, both of the Netherlands, after becoming the first Japanese winner of the speed skating world allround championships in Amsterdam on March 11, 2018.
Miho Takagi (C) poses for a photo alongside her coach Johan de Wit (L) after becoming the first Japanese winner of the speed skating allround world championships in Amsterdam on March 11, 2018.
Miho Takagi (C) poses for a photo alongside her coach Johan de Wit (L) after becoming the first Japanese winner of the speed skating allround world championships in Amsterdam on March 11, 2018.
(From L) Japan speed skaters Ayaka Kikuchi, Ayano Sato, Miho Takagi and Nana Takagi speak to reporters at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo after attending an "enyukai" spring garden party on April 25, 2018.
(From L) Japan speed skaters Ayaka Kikuchi, Ayano Sato, Miho Takagi and Nana Takagi speak to reporters at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo after attending an "enyukai" spring garden party on April 25, 2018.
Japan's Miho Takagi competes en route to setting a women's speed skating 1,500 meters world record of 1 minute, 49.83 seconds at a World Cup event in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 10, 2019.
Japan's Miho Takagi celebrates after winning the speed skating sprint world championships in Hamar, Norway, on Feb. 29, 2020.
Japan's Miho Takagi poses after winning the silver medal in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 8, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi poses after winning the silver medal in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 8, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi celebrates after winning the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijng on Feb. 17, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi celebrates after winning the women's speed skating 1,000 meters at the Beijing Winter Olympics in Beijng on Feb. 17, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi shows her four Beijing Winter Olympics medals, gold for the 1,000 meters and silver for the 500, 1,500 and team pursuit, in Beijing on Feb. 18, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi shows her four Beijing Winter Olympics medals, gold for the 1,000 meters and silver for the 500, 1,500 and team pursuit, in Beijing on Feb. 18, 2022.
Japan's Miho Takagi (C), alongside runner-up Femke Kok (L) and third-place Jutta Leerdam (R) of the Netherlands, pose for a photo after winning her second speed skating sprint world championship in Inzell, Germany on March 8, 2024.
Japan's Miho Takagi (C), alongside runner-up Femke Kok (L) and third-place Jutta Leerdam (R) of the Netherlands, pose for a photo after winning her second speed skating sprint world championship in Inzell, Germany on March 8, 2024.
Japan's (from L) Momoka Horikawa, Ayano Sato, Miho Takagi and Hana Noake pose for a photo after winning the women's speed skating team pursuit bronze at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 17, 2026.
Japan's (from L) Momoka Horikawa, Ayano Sato, Miho Takagi and Hana Noake pose for a photo after winning the women's speed skating team pursuit bronze at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 17, 2026.
Japan's Miho takagi reacts after finishing sixth in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 20, 2026.
Japan's Miho takagi reacts after finishing sixth in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 20, 2026.
Japan's Miho takagi reacts after finishing sixth in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 20, 2026.
Japan's Miho takagi reacts after finishing sixth in the women's speed skating 1,500 meters at the Milan Cortina Olympics at Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Feb. 20, 2026.
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