Tomomi Okazaki
Encyclopedia
Tomomi Okazaki is a Japanese speed skater
who has competed in five Olympic Games
. She won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan. Okazaki was the oldest member of the Japanese team at the 2010 Winter Olympics
. In the opening ceremonies for those games, she became the first woman to bear her country's flag at a Winter Olympics.
at five Olympic Games
, participating in both 500 meter and 1,000 meter events. She first competed in the Winter Olympics in the 1994 Games
in Lillehammer
, Norway
, placing 14th. Four years later, competing in her home country during the 1998 Games
in Nagano, she won her only medal, a bronze, when she placed third in the 500 meter event
with a time of 38:55. She placed seventh in the 1,000 meter race at the same games. She became famous in her native Japan and around the world for her smile after winning the bronze medal. In 2002
, she placed 6th in the 500 meter race, and in 2006
placed 16th in the 1,000 meter race and a close 4th in the 500 meter raced after coming in third in the first two runs of the competition.
She earned a spot on the Japanese team for the 2010 Olympic Games
, the first woman from Japan to compete in five Olympic Games. At 38 years old, she was the oldest female member of the Japanese team, and was selected to bear the flag
of Japan during the opening ceremony
. She was not the first female flag bearer for Japan in the winter games as erroneously reported by a Canadian TV commentator and on Yahoo! Sports (This title goes to Seiko Hashimoto in Calgary in 1988). The Japanese delegation however, was the first in the 2010 procession of delegates that was led by a female flag bearer. This fact may have played a part in the confusion. Okazaki was considered a mentor by the youngest member of Japan's 2010 team, speed skater Miho Takagi. According to news reports during the 2010 Games, Okazaki intends to try out for the 2014 Winter Olympics
in Sochi
, Russia
as well.
In addition to her Olympic career, Okazaki has skated successfully in a number of world championship events. She has won 11 Speed Skating World Cup
races in 500 meter events, and has a personal best time in that distance of 37.73. Her performances at the 1,000 meter distance have been less successful.
Okazaki was married in late 2007 and started competing again during the 2008-2009 speed skating season.
Speed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
who has competed in five Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. She won a bronze medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan. Okazaki was the oldest member of the Japanese team at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
. In the opening ceremonies for those games, she became the first woman to bear her country's flag at a Winter Olympics.
Biography
Okazaki, a member of the Fuji speed skating team, has competed in speed skatingSpeed skating
Speed skating, or speedskating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating...
at five Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, participating in both 500 meter and 1,000 meter events. She first competed in the Winter Olympics in the 1994 Games
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, placing 14th. Four years later, competing in her home country during the 1998 Games
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, she won her only medal, a bronze, when she placed third in the 500 meter event
Speed skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics
-500m:February 9/February 10, 1998-1,000m:February 15, 1998-1,500m:February 10, 1998-5,000m:February 8, 1998-10,000m:February 17, 1998-500m:February 13/February 14, 1998-1,000m:February 19, 1998-1,500m:February 16, 1998-3,000m:...
with a time of 38:55. She placed seventh in the 1,000 meter race at the same games. She became famous in her native Japan and around the world for her smile after winning the bronze medal. In 2002
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
, she placed 6th in the 500 meter race, and in 2006
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
placed 16th in the 1,000 meter race and a close 4th in the 500 meter raced after coming in third in the first two runs of the competition.
She earned a spot on the Japanese team for the 2010 Olympic Games
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, the first woman from Japan to compete in five Olympic Games. At 38 years old, she was the oldest female member of the Japanese team, and was selected to bear the flag
2010 Winter Olympics national flag bearers
During the Parade of Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, held beginning at 6:00 PM PST on February 12, 2010, 82 athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations led their national delegations as they paraded into BC Place Stadium in the host city of Vancouver, British...
of Japan during the opening ceremony
2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on February 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors...
. She was not the first female flag bearer for Japan in the winter games as erroneously reported by a Canadian TV commentator and on Yahoo! Sports (This title goes to Seiko Hashimoto in Calgary in 1988). The Japanese delegation however, was the first in the 2010 procession of delegates that was led by a female flag bearer. This fact may have played a part in the confusion. Okazaki was considered a mentor by the youngest member of Japan's 2010 team, speed skater Miho Takagi. According to news reports during the 2010 Games, Okazaki intends to try out for the 2014 Winter Olympics
2014 Winter Olympics
The 2014 Winter Olympics, officially the XXII Olympic Winter Games, or the 22nd Winter Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event scheduled to be celebrated from 7 to 23 February 2014, in Sochi, Russia with some events held in the resort town of Krasnaya Polyana. Both the Olympic and...
in Sochi
Sochi
Sochi is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, situated just north of Russia's border with the de facto independent republic of Abkhazia, on the Black Sea coast. Greater Sochi sprawls for along the shores of the Black Sea near the Caucasus Mountains...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
as well.
In addition to her Olympic career, Okazaki has skated successfully in a number of world championship events. She has won 11 Speed Skating World Cup
Speed Skating World Cup
The Speed Skating World Cup is a series of international speed skating competitions, organised yearly by the International Skating Union since the winter of 1985–86. Every year during the winter, a number of competitions on a number of different distances are held...
races in 500 meter events, and has a personal best time in that distance of 37.73. Her performances at the 1,000 meter distance have been less successful.
Okazaki was married in late 2007 and started competing again during the 2008-2009 speed skating season.