After virtually securing her spot at next February’s Milano–Cortina Winter Olympics in the women’s 500m, 22-year-old Yukino Yoshida (Kotobukihiro) returned to Japan on the 16th, arriving at Haneda Airport following the fourth round of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Hamar. Just one day removed from her first World Cup victory of the season and third overall, the young sprinter, who insists it is “only a stepping stone”, already has her sights set on raising her level further.
37.65 at World Cup Round 4 in Hamar – first win of the season and third career victory
On the final day of World Cup Round 4 (14 December, Hamar, Norway), Yoshida clocked 37.65 to win the women’s 500m second race. It was her first World Cup win of the season and her third career victory, and it also meant she met the selection standard for next February’s Milano–Cortina Olympics, making her first Olympic team selection virtually certain.
In that race, she came out on top in a three-way battle with Poland’s Kaja Ziomek-Nogal and Korea’s Kim Min-sun. Both second and third place finished in 37.83, just 0.18 seconds behind. In a sprint event decided by hundredths of a second, Yoshida’s smooth acceleration and sustained speed through to the finish truly stood out.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Yukino Yoshida | Japan | 37.65 |
| 2nd | Kaja Ziomek-Nogal | Poland | 37.83 |
| 3rd | Kim Min-sun | Republic of Korea | 37.83 |
On the same final day, Japan’s trio of Momoka Horikawa, Miho Takagi and Ayano Sato finished 3rd in the women’s team pursuit, also making Japan’s qualification for Milano–Cortina all but certain in that event. From the sprints to the middle and long distances, it turned into a highly productive final World Cup round of the year for Japan’s women’s speed skating team.
“Only a stepping stone” – reflections on four World Cup rounds: progress and challenges
When Yoshida arrived at Haneda Airport after her European tour on the 16th, she faced the media with a calm expression.
“Being able to win the race has definitely increased my experience and confidence,” she said. “But it’s only a stepping stone. I still feel there is a gap between me and the very top skaters in the world.”
She added with determination, “I want to work hard to close that gap as much as possible.” Even with her first Olympic spot essentially secured, there is no sign of complacency. Her eyes are already fixed on the ice of Milano–Cortina.
Across the four World Cup rounds so far this season, Yoshida has not only showcased her explosive starts, but also a new strength: the ability to maintain high speed in the later stages of the race. At the same time, with dominant sprinters like Femke Kok regularly posting times at or near world record and track record level, she recognises that another step up in gear is required to reach the very top.
Targeting a 1000m Olympic spot at the All-Japan Championships
With the four pre-Christmas World Cup rounds completed, Yoshida’s next major target is the All-Japan Championships at Nagano’s M-Wave (scheduled to start on the 26th). While she has effectively secured Olympic selection in the 500m by meeting the dispatch standard, she has already switched her focus, saying, “I haven’t secured a 1000m spot yet, so I want to prepare to skate strongly in both the 500 and the 1000.”
Building on the explosive start and speed she shows in the 500m, how far can she push the world’s best over 1000m as well? With expectations rising for her to shine in multiple events at Milano–Cortina, her performances in Nagano will be a key step in shaping the second half of her season.
Yukino Yoshida’s World Cup 500m results so far this season
Yoshida’s main results in the 500m on this season’s World Cup circuit are as follows. From Round 1 she has consistently finished near the top, and at Round 4 in Hamar she took 3rd place in the first race and victory in the second. Within the sprint ranks, her presence is steadily growing.
| Event | Discipline | Result |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup Round 1 (Salt Lake City) | 500m | 3rd (first podium of the season) |
| World Cup Round 3 | 500m | 4th |
| World Cup Round 4 (Hamar) – Race 1 | 500m | 3rd (around 37.75) |
| World Cup Round 4 (Hamar) – Race 2 | 500m | Winner (37.65 – first win of the season and third career victory) |
Although she has only been competing regularly on the senior international stage for a few years, Yoshida is already becoming a regular on the 500m podium. As a potential successor to the golden era once built by Nao Kodaira in Japanese women’s sprinting, there is growing anticipation for how far she can rise at Milano–Cortina.
