The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are just around the corner. Japan speed skating representatives Wataru Morishige (Okamoto Group) and Yukino Yoshida (Jukoh) held their first practice session at the competition venue, the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. What stood out in their comments was an unfamiliar sensation: “it feels hollow inside,” and “the power from the push doesn’t transmit.”
A temporary oval built inside an exhibition venue
The speed skating events will be staged at a temporary venue developed on a former exhibition site in Milan: Milano Speed Skating Stadium. The oval has been constructed inside a fairground-style facility—an approach rarely seen at past Winter Olympics. According to official information from the International Skating Union (ISU), speed skating at the 2026 Games will be held at the “Milano Speed Skating Stadium” within Milano Ice Park.
Because the rink is newly built—and seemingly structured with an air space beneath the ice—the density of the ice and the way sound carries can differ significantly from a typical indoor rink. That background connects to the “sparse” and “power doesn’t transfer” feeling both skaters described.
“Hollow inside—kind of sparse”: where flag bearer Morishige stands
Wataru Morishige (25), the Beijing Olympic men’s 500m bronze medalist and a selected flag bearer for Team Japan, skated easy laps in his first session while checking the ice conditions.
After practice, Morishige described the ice like this:
“It’s a newly made rink. It’s like it’s hollow inside—kind of sparse—like there’s no density.”
In January, Morishige suffered an accident in the 500m at the World Cup in Inzell, crashing into the mats and hurting his left knee, forcing him to withdraw mid-meet. Fortunately, no major damage remained, and as he arrived in Milan he said, “So far it’s healed and I’m adjusting well.”
On the ice, he focused on confirming corner sensations—especially after the earlier fall—and sharpening movement through full runs from 100m to 500m. He’s in the phase of testing details on this unique surface: whether the ice “pushes back” when he sets an edge in the corner, and where his speed rises from start to finish.
Even so, Morishige’s eyes are firmly on the main stage.
“The Olympics are the top stage, but my mindset doesn’t change. If I treat it like any other world event, I can bring out my ability. I want to race without overthinking it.”
The men’s 500m—where Morishige is expected to contend again—starts at 17:03 local time on February 14. He will lead Team Japan at the opening ceremony as a flag bearer, then chase speed on the ice as an elite sprinter—two major roles as his final adjustments continue.
“Pop-pop” and “grindy”: first-time Olympian Yoshida’s discomfort
Yukino Yoshida (23), viewed as a rising leader of Japan’s women’s sprint group, also put in more than an hour of ice time, checking the Olympic venue for the first time.
About the feeling underfoot, Yoshida admitted confusion as well: “It’s like there’s a hollow space underneath, so the power you push with doesn’t transmit. The sensation is different.” Compared to Japan’s permanent rinks, both “hardness” and “rebound” feel unfamiliar—meaning she may need to reset ingrained sensations from the start dash through corner work.
Still, she also looked excited. For Yoshida, making her Olympic debut, this rink is “where everything starts.” The women’s 1000m final—Team Japan’s first speed skating women’s event at these Games—begins at 17:30 local time on February 9.
As she put it, she wants to “get used to it properly.” With limited practice slots, the key will be how far she can shape a “Milano-rink-ready” skate by race day—potentially a decisive factor in medal contention.
Morishige & Yoshida: key race schedule (speed skating)
Based on the official Milano Cortina speed skating schedule published by the ISU, here is a quick reference for the two skaters’ main events (all times are local Italy time / CET).
| Athlete | Event | Round | Date (local) | Time (local) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wataru Morishige | Men’s 500m | Final | Feb 14 (Sat) | 17:03 | Milano Speed Skating Stadium |
| Yukino Yoshida | Women’s 1000m | Final | Feb 9 (Mon) | 17:30 | Milano Speed Skating Stadium |
Both the men’s 500m and women’s 1000m are one-shot finals—high-tension races where everything is decided by a single start, in classic sprint speed skating style.
Can they turn the rink’s “quirks” into an advantage?
The lightness of the ice, the sound, and the different rebound of a temporary rink can be a risk—but if athletes adapt well, it can become a weapon to create separation. Especially in the first dozens of meters from the start through acceleration, minimizing any loss is a crucial battle point for Japan’s sprinters.
Morishige emphasized staying “the same as a world event,” keeping his usual mindset. Yoshida also looked forward, saying she wants to “get used to it properly,” treating the Olympics as an extension of everyday competition rather than something distant and special.
A 400m oval that suddenly appeared inside an exhibition venue in Milan. Beneath that ice lie memories of joy and frustration from Beijing—and quiet determination toward the next medal. How far can Morishige and Yoshida turn this unusual rink into their stage? It’s a key point to watch right before the opening.
Related X posts
You can also check the pre-Games atmosphere and athlete comments via official and media X accounts.
Related video: a guide-style speed skating video (Japan)
In related interviews and guide-style videos, you can also pick up Yoshida’s words and expressions as she heads toward her first Olympics.
