Miho Takagi

Hobbies	Keeping a diary. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)
Other sports	She was called up to attend a training camp with the Japan Football Association but decided to concentrate on speed skating. (sponichi.co.jp, 17 Mar 2010; yomiuri.co.jp, 08 Jan 2010)
Famous relatives	Her older sister Nana Takagi has represented Japan in speed skating. She won gold in both the mass start and team pursuit at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and silver in team pursuit at the 2022 Games in Beijing. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Nov 2023; Athlete, 16 Nov 2023; yomiuri.co.jp, 06 Jan 2010)

Reason for choosing this sport

She was encouraged to take up the sport by her siblings.

Most influential person in career

Coach Johan de Wit. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)

Name of coach	Johan de Wit [personal], NED
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began skating at age five in Obihiro, Japan.

Sporting philosophy / motto

"Everything is possible." (Athlete, 21 Nov 2019)

Club / Team

Tokio Inkarami: Japan

Awards and honours

In 2019 she received the Big Sports Award at the 54th Asahi TV Big Sports Awards in Japan. (nikkansports.com, 03 Dec 2019) She was elected as one of the 2019/20 Japanese Olympic Committee [JOC] Symbol Athletes. (jiji.com, 16 Apr 2019; joc.or.jp, 24 Jan 2019) In 2019 she was presented with the JOC Cup [for Most Valuable Player] by the Japan Skating Federation. (sanspo.com, 25 Apr 2019) In 2018 she was given the Kozuki Sports Award by the Kozuki Foundation in Japan. (kozuki-foundation.or.jp, 05 Apr 2019) In 2018 she received the Hokkaido Citizen Honorary Award and the Yokohama City Sports Honorary Award in Japan. (sportsbull.jp, 07 May 2018; sankei.com, 04 Apr 2018) In 2017 she was presented with the Special Excellence of the Year Award at the annual Japanese Olympic Committee [JOC] Sports Awards. (nikkansports.com, 08 Jun 2018) She was named Best Skater of the 2015/16 season by the Japan Skating Federation. (nikkansports.com, 24 Mar 2016) In 2014 she was given an Excellence Award at the annual Japanese Olympic Committee [JOC] Sports Awards. (cyclestyle.net, 13 Jun 2015) In 2010 and 2014 she received the Citizen's Honorary Award in Makubetsu, Japan. (DoshinWeb, 26 Sep 2014; ANN News, 21 Mar 2010)

www.facebook.com/Miho-Takagi-648127885389660

Other information	TRAINING ABROAD Following the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, she made the decision to relocate to the Netherlands. Part of her motivation for making the move was to continue working with Dutch coach Johan de Wit, who had been trainer of the Japanese national speed skating team between 2015 and 2022. "I feel that the time I have spent with Johan has been great, and it gave me a lot even outside of my skating life. Now that the 2022 Olympics are over, I wondered if I could step outside [of the national team] and take on a new challenge. The ultimate reason for the new challenge is that I want to skate fast." (nikkansports.com, 16 Jun 2022) OCCUPATION She has worked in the public relations department at Nippon Sport Science University in Japan. (jiji.com, 01 Apr 2020; mainichi.jp, 01 Apr 2020)
Injuries	In October 2020 she withdrew from the 500m and 3000m events at the 2020 All Japan Single Distances Championships in Nagano as a precaution due to a right knee injury she had sustained a few months earlier. She competed in the 1000m and 1500m at the tournament, winning both events. (number.bunshun.jp, 12 Nov 2020; thedigestweb.com, 24 Oct 2020; nikkansports.com, 25 Oct 2020) She has sustained injuries to her femur [thigh bone] during her career. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2017)
Milestones	She became the first Japanese skater to win gold at the world allround championships when she claimed victory in the small combination at the 2018 edition in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Also, she and her teammates Ayaka Kikuchi and Nana Takagi became the first female Japanese skaters to win gold in team pursuit at the world single distances championships, when they triumphed at the 2015 edition in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Oct 2018; sankei.com, 14 Mar 2018; japantimes.co.jp, 15 Feb 2015)

twitter.com/mihotakagi_ss

Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs	She drinks coffee before she competes. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)
Hero / Idol	Her mother. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)
Ambitions	To win a gold medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (Athlete, 16 Nov 2023)