Japan’s middle-distance ace Miho Takagi completed a stunning double at ISU Speed Skating World Cup Round 4 in Hamar, Norway, winning both the women’s 1500m and 1000m on back-to-back days. She took the 1500m in 1:54.95 and the 1000m in 1:14.39, underlining a powerful “comeback double” in the build-up to next February’s Milano–Cortina Winter Olympics. As of 18 December (Japan time), overseas media have also been running feature pieces on Takagi, showing how her performances are once again drawing global attention.
This article breaks down how her two races in Hamar unfolded, the results, comments from Takagi and her coach, and how this double victory positions her on the road to Milano 2026. *All information is based on official results and media reports as of 18 December 2025.
Women’s 1500m: 1:54.95 – first World Cup win of the season, edging Morozova by a fraction
The women’s 1500m on the opening day proved to be one of the highest-level races of this season’s World Cup series. Skating in the penultimate pair, Takagi started the first 300m in a controlled rhythm before sharply increasing her speed through the middle laps – her trademark style. Without breaking form in the final lap, she crossed the line in 1:54.95.
She was followed by Nadezhda Morozova of Kazakhstan in 1:54.98, a gap of just 0.03 seconds. Ragne Wiklund of Norway took 3rd in 1:55.18. On paper the margins were razor-thin, but for Takagi this was an important first World Cup victory of the season over 1500m.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Miho Takagi | Japan | 1:54.95 | — |
| 2nd | Nadezhda Morozova | Kazakhstan | 1:54.98 | +0.03 |
| 3rd | Ragne Wiklund | Norway | 1:55.18 | +0.23 |
After the race, Takagi said, “Of course I’m relieved to have won, but more than that I’m thinking about how to raise the quality of my races,” making clear that she is focused on performance rather than just results. Looking at the lap times, she recognises there is still room to improve her finishing speed, noting, “As it is now, this is not yet a race that can win at the Olympics.” For her, this victory is very much a stepping stone.
Women’s 1000m: 1:14.39 – back-to-back wins, beating Femke Kok head-to-head
The following day’s women’s 1000m featured a highly anticipated head-to-head with sprint queen Femke Kok of the Netherlands. Takagi surged through the middle section, attacking the corners aggressively with sharp inside lines. Maintaining her speed all the way to the finish, she stopped the clock at 1:14.39 to take another win.
Kok placed 2nd in 1:14.73, with fellow Dutch skater Marrit Fledderus 3rd in 1:15.39. By winning both the 1500m and 1000m on consecutive days, Takagi completed a clean sweep of the women’s middle distances at the Hamar World Cup.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Miho Takagi | Japan | 1:14.39 | — |
| 2nd | Femke Kok | Netherlands | 1:14.73 | +0.34 |
| 3rd | Marrit Fledderus | Netherlands | 1:15.39 | +1.00 |
Regarding the 1000m, Takagi commented, “My feeling today was better than yesterday. I can sense that I’m getting a little better with every race.” Despite racing both the 1500m and 1000m on consecutive days, she was able to deliver high-level performances in both, a major positive in the build-up to Milano 2026.
“Even when I win, there are plenty of issues” – yet the gap to the very top is in sight
Throughout this World Cup season, Takagi has stood on the podium multiple times in the 1000m and 1500m, but she has also experienced races where she narrowly missed out on victory. Speaking about her two wins in Hamar, she reportedly said, “There are more points to reflect on than feelings of joy.”
In the 1500m, given that Takagi has repeatedly produced world-record and track-record level times in the past, her time in Hamar still does not represent her absolute peak. Even so, the fact that she can beat the world’s top skaters while “not yet at full strength” is proof that she continues to evolve at the age of 31.
Her coach Johan de Wit told the media, “Victories give confidence and make us feel that we are heading in the right direction.” Reflecting on what he saw in Hamar, he added, “Both her technique and her energy distribution are getting closer to the level we ask for every day,” expressing clear satisfaction with the quality of her skating.
Towards Milano–Cortina 2026: main focus on 1000m, 1500m and team pursuit
Takagi is the undisputed leader of Japanese women’s speed skating, having won a total of seven Olympic medals (including two golds). At Beijing 2022, she captured gold in the women’s 1000m and silver in the 1500m, 500m and team pursuit, becoming the Japanese woman with the most Olympic medals in history.
Looking ahead to Milano–Cortina 2026, Takagi has identified the 1000m, 1500m and the team pursuit – all events she won or excelled in at this World Cup – as her primary battlegrounds. Regarding the 500m, she admits that “the pure speed still isn’t where it needs to be” and has indicated that she will carefully weigh up which events to skate there.
This World Cup in Hamar is a key mid-season checkpoint that connects directly to the Olympics. The double crown she earned here is more than just a “good result” – it is part of a very Miho Takagi-like process of “winning while identifying new areas to work on.”
Key results and reference links (official information)
For readers who want to dive deeper into the Hamar World Cup and Miho Takagi’s performances, here is a collection of useful official links.
- Olympics.com (Japanese): World Cup Round 4 Hamar – women’s 1500m results
- Olympics.com (Japanese): World Cup Round 4 Hamar – women’s 1000m results
- Olympics.com: overview of the ISU Speed Skating World Cup Hamar 2025
- ISU official: live and archived speed skating results
- Olympics.com (Japanese): Miho Takagi – major results and 2025–26 season
