Japan speed skating star Takagi Niho continues remarkable career at Beijing 2022

Japan speed skating star Takagi Miho knows all about pressure, having made her Olympic Winter Games debut as a 15-year-old at Vancouver 2010.

So when sister Takagi Nana fell on the last bend before the finish line in the Beijing 2022 women’s team pursuit final, handing Canada a certain gold medal and Japan the silver, Miho was quick to wrap her arms around her older sibling.

"I couldn't find any words to tell her at that moment," Takagi Miho said. "I just wanted to be close to her and give her a hug." 

It’s been another epic Winter Olympics for the 27-year-old, who is at her third Olympic Winter Games.

Competing in five events at Beijing 2022, the Hokaido-born skater won a silver medal in the women’s 1500m behind the record-breaking Ireen Wust, a silver medal in the women’s 500m behind the trail-blazing Erin Jackson, the silver medal in the women’s team pursuit and finished sixth in her opening event, the women’s 3000m.

Takagi’s fifth and final event at her third Games is the women’s 1000m on Thursday 17 February.

It’s an event the reigning sprint world champion is again expected to perform strongly in, and won a bronze medal at PyeongChang 2018.

The incredible competition programme is another chapter in an already brilliant and fascinating career.

Four years ago at PyeongChang 2018, Takagi won three medals; gold in the women’s team pursuit, silver in the women’s 1500m and the bronze in the women’s 1000m.

Prior to that she missed selection for Sochi 2014 by placing fifth in all distances at the Japanese Olympic Trials in 2013.

It was a surprising turn of events after the remarkable scenes of 2010, when as a 15-year-old Takagi became the youngest Japanese Olympic speed skater as well as the youngest Olympic speed skater