At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Japan's women's speed skating team secured a bronze medal in the team pursuit on February 18. Hana Noake made her Olympic debut in the bronze medal race, aiding the squad in defeating the United States. The achievement represents Japan's third consecutive Olympic medal in the event.
At the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 18, Japan's women's speed skating team fell short of the gold medal it targeted in the team pursuit but rallied to win bronze. The squad, consisting of Miho Takagi, Hana Noake, and Ayano Sato, clocked 2 minutes 58.50 seconds to outpace the United States in the bronze medal race.
In a tactical adjustment, Noake replaced Momoka Horikawa, who had anchored in the semifinals, for the final race. The lineup featured Takagi as lead, Noake in second position, and Sato as anchor. Despite the pressure of her Olympic debut in a medal-deciding contest, Noake approached the ice with the mindset of, “I just have to do what I have to do.” The event involves six laps on a 400-meter oval, employing a modern pushing technique where second- and third-position skaters place hands on the leader's hips to provide momentum, minimizing lead changes.
Coach Shane Williamson praised Noake and Sato for their “exceptional technical ability to sync with the lead skater’s stride.” Though the start was slightly unsteady, the team held their speed to secure the win. The bronze race occurred less than two hours after the semifinals, making back-to-back efforts with three skaters grueling. Williamson noted that Japan's real strength is utilizing all four squad members. Takagi clapped her hands in apparent satisfaction after the results. This bronze marks Japan's third straight Olympic medal in the event.
