Tomomi Okazaki

Tomomi Okazaki at the World Cup in Heerenveen, November 11, 2006

Tomomi Okazaki ( Japanese 岡 崎 朋 美 , Okazaki Tomomi ; born September 7, 1971 in Kiyosato ) is a Japanese speed skater . At a height of 164 cm, it starts with a weight of 57 kg. She is considered one of the best and most successful sprinters of the 1990s and 2000s . Okazaki starts for the Japanese professional speed skating team Fuji.

Tomomi Okazaki made her debut in the World Cup in December 1992 and was able to place in the top ten within a few races. In February 1996 she won her first race over the 500 meters in Roseville . In 1995/96 and 1999/2000, she finished second in the overall World Cup on the 500-meter course. She proved her skills as an all-rounder when she also finished third in the overall World Cup in 1996/97 on the long distance.

In 1997 Okazaki became Asian champion over 1000 meters in Obihiro . In 1996, 1998 and 1999 she won bronze at the world championships over 500 meters. Her greatest success was the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Nagano in 1998. She had already participated in the Olympic Games in Lillehammer in 1994 , and in 2002 she reached sixth place over 500 meters at the Games in Salt Lake City ; In 2006 in Turin , she just missed another precious metal as fourth.

At the Games in Turin and four years later in Vancouver , she had the honor of carrying the Japanese flag during the opening ceremony . With her participation in the Vancouver Games , she is the first Japanese woman to take part in five consecutive Olympic Games.

Speed ​​skating world cup placements

placement	100 m	500 m	1000 m	1500 m	3000 m	5000 m	10,000 m	team
1st place		11	1
2nd place		8th
3rd place		7th	3
Top 10	5	95	34

(As of December 10, 2006)

Web links

• Statistics at Skateresults
• Statistics at speed skating news
• Photos at DESGphoto