Nao Kodaira: Japan’s First Women’s Olympic Speed-Skating Champion
Nao Kodaira: Japan’s First Women’s Olympic Speed-Skating Champion
A 500m gold in Olympic-record time at PyeongChang 2018. Here is the career of Nao Kodaira.
Nao Kodaira became the first Japanese woman to win an individual Olympic speed-skating gold, taking the 500m at PyeongChang 2018 in an Olympic-record 36.94 seconds. The 2017 world champion also won silver in the 1000m, and at 31 became the oldest Japanese athlete to win a Winter Olympic gold.
In this guide
1. 500m gold and a record
2. A landmark for Japan
3. Sportsmanship remembered
4. Why she matters
1. 500m gold and a record
The fastest woman on the ice.
At PyeongChang 2018, Kodaira won the 500m in an Olympic-record 36.94 seconds, having arrived as the 2017 world champion. She added silver in the 1000m.1
2. A landmark for Japan
A national first.
Her win made her the first Japanese woman to take an individual Olympic speed-skating title, and at 31 the oldest Japanese athlete to win a Winter Olympic gold.1
3. Sportsmanship remembered
A moment beyond the result.
Her warm embrace of home-favourite Lee Sang-hwa after the race became one of the enduring images of the Games — a reminder that rivalry and respect can sit together.
4. Why she matters
Japan’s ice pioneer.
Kodaira broadened Japan’s Winter Olympic success beyond figure skating, sitting alongside the other Olympic greats profiled across our development hub.
Frequently asked questions
What did Nao Kodaira win at PyeongChang 2018?
Gold in the 500m (Olympic-record 36.94s) and silver in the 1000m.
Why was her gold historic?
She was the first Japanese woman to win an individual Olympic speed-skating title.
Was she a world champion?
Yes — she won the 2017 world title before her PyeongChang gold.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, systems and culture behind Japanese sport.
Sources & notes
- PyeongChang 2018 500m gold (OR 36.94), 1000m silver; first Japanese woman with individual Olympic speed-skating gold; 2017 world champion; oldest Japanese Winter gold at 31. Olympics.com; Wikipedia.
A profile dated 21 June 2026. No copyrighted material is reproduced.
📅 更新履歴
| 日付 | 変更内容 |
|---|---|
| 2026年6月21日 | 初回公開 |
| 2026年6月22日 | 情報を更新 |
✅ ファクト再検証
最終検証日：2026年6月22日
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