Hitomi Saito

Japan

Sport	Short Track
FederationID	STJPN20907199001
NOC	Japan
Born	09 Jul 1990
Gender	Women

Higher education	Human Biology - Kanagawa University: Yokohama, JPN
Residence	Sagamihara, JPN
Languages	Japanese

Personal Bests	Event	Record	Date	Location
Personal Bests
	Event	Record	Date	Location
	500m	44.235	17 Mar 2018	Montreal
	1000m	1:29.020	19 Nov 2017	Seoul
	1500m	2:20.488	13 Nov 2016	Salt Lake City, UT

Main Achievements
Main Achievements
World Championships	Event
World Championships
	3000m Relay	1

General Interest

Hobbies

Scuba diving. (skatingjapan.or.jp, 13 Oct 2019)

Sport Specific Information

Reason for choosing this sport

Her younger brother was a skater and she followed him into the sport.

General Interest

Most influential person in career	Coach Jeon Jae-Mok. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)
Hero / Idol	US short track skater John Celski. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up the sport at age 10 in Kanagawa, Japan.

General Interest

Famous relatives	Her younger brother Kei has represented Japan in short track, making his World Cup debut during the 2014/15 season. Her other brother Yu has also competed in the sport at an elite level. (asahi.com, 13 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 08 Dec 2014; skatingjapan.or.jp, 01 Dec 2014; 47news.jp, 01 Feb 2012)
Awards and honours	In 2013 and 2017 she received the Kanagawa Prefecture Sports Excellence Award in Japan. (pref.kanagawa.jp, 05 Jan 2018; kanagawa-u.ac.jp, 16 Jan 2013)

Social Media

www.facebook.com/saito.hitomi.3

General Interest

Injuries	She injured her ankle in 2008. (Athlete, 11 Feb 2016) She fractured her back in grade seven of middle school. (Athlete, 04 Nov 2018, 02 Feb 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Move forward, particularly when you are in a difficult moment." (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)
Memorable sporting achievement	Representing Japan at the world junior championships. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2019)
Other information	RETIREMENT In April 2020 she announced her retirement from international competition. (mainichi.jp, 30 Apr 2020)

Championships results	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
Championships results
	2016/2017	World Championships	3000m Relay	3
	2014/2015	World Championships	3000m Relay	4
	2017/2018	World Championships	3000m Relay	5
	2018	Olympic Games	3000m Relay	6
	2008/2009	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	6
	2009/2010	World Junior Championships	3000m Relay	6
	2015/2016	World Championships	3000m Relay	7
	2013/2014	World Championships	3000m Relay	8
	2017/2018	World Championships	500m	11
	2015/2016	World Championships	1500m	12
	2018	Olympic Games	1000m	16
	2015/2016	World Championships	1000m	16
	2015/2016	World Championships	Overall	16
	2016/2017	World Championships	1000m	19
	2016/2017	World Championships	1500m	19
	2017/2018	World Championships	Overall	20
	2008/2009	World Junior Championships	Overall	21
	2017/2018	World Championships	1000m	21
	2015/2016	World Championships	500m	22
	2016/2017	World Championships	Overall	23
	2013/2014	World Championships	1500m	24
	2017/2018	World Championships	1500m	24
	2013/2014	World Championships	1000m	26
	2013/2014	World Championships	Overall	28
	2013/2014	World Championships	500m	31
	2016/2017	World Championships	500m	35

World Cups	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
World Cups
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	3000m Relay	3
	2015/2016	Dresden	3000m Relay	3
	2018/2019	Almaty	2000m Relay	4
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	1500m	4
	2016/2017	Dresden	3000m Relay	4
	2014/2015	Dresden	3000m Relay	5
	2016/2017	Gangneung	1500m	5
	2016/2017	Minsk	3000m Relay	6
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	3000m Relay	6
	2017/2018	Shanghai	3000m Relay	6
	2016/2017	Shanghai	1000m	7
	2014/2015	Erzurum	3000m Relay	7
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	3000m Relay	7
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	1500m	8
	2016/2017	Shanghai	3000m Relay	8
	2016/2017	Gangneung	3000m Relay	8
	2015/2016	Dresden	1500m	9
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	2000m Relay	9
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	3000m Relay	10
	2016/2017	Minsk	1000m	10
	2016/2017	Dresden	1500m	11
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	3000m Relay	11
	2016/2017	Shanghai	1500m	11
	2014/2015	Dresden	1500m	11
	2014/2015	Erzurum	1000m	11
	2016/2017	World Cup Classification	1500m	12
	2012/2013	Dresden	1500m	12
	2018/2019	Almaty	1000m	13
	2014/2015	Erzurum	500m	14
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	500m	16
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	1500m	16
	2018/2019	Calgary, AB	1500m	17
	2016/2017	Gangneung	1000m	17
	2016/2017	Minsk	1500m	17
	2015/2016	World Cup Classification	1500m	18
	2014/2015	World Cup Classification	1500m	18
	2010/2011	Dresden	500m	18
	2018/2019	Salt Lake City, UT	1000m	18
	2015/2016	Dresden	1500m	18
	2010/2011	Dresden	1500m	19
	2014/2015	Dresden	1000m	20
	2016/2017	Salt Lake City, UT	1500m	21
	2017/2018	World Cup Classification	1000m	22
	2016/2017	Dresden	1500m	22
	2011/2012	World Cup Classification	1500m	24
	2019/2020	Shanghai	1500m	24
	2018/2019	Almaty	1500m	26
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	26
	2010/2011	World Cup Classification	1500m	27
	2016/2017	World Cup Classification	1000m	29
	2019/2020	Shanghai	500m	29
	2017/2018	World Cup Classification	1500m	32
	2019/2020	Salt Lake City, UT	500m	32
	2014/2015	World Cup Classification	500m	36
	2015/2016	World Cup Classification	1000m	37
	2016/2017	Calgary, AB	1000m	38
	2018/2019	World Cup Classification	1500m	41
	2019/2020	World Cup Classification	1000m	42
	2012/2013	World Cup Classification	1500m	42
	2018/2019	World Cup Classification	1000m	43
	2014/2015	World Cup Classification	1000m	43
	2017/2018	World Cup Classification	500m	44
	2018/2019	World Cup Classification	500m	46
	2017/2018	Shanghai	1500m	46
	2010/2011	World Cup Classification	500m	48
	2011/2012	World Cup Classification	500m	50
	2019/2020	World Cup Classification	500m	53
	2019/2020	World Cup Classification	1500m	56
	2015/2016	World Cup Classification	500m	68
	2011/2012	World Cup Classification	1000m	75
	2012/2013	World Cup Classification	500m	76
	2010/2011	World Cup Classification	1000m	77