miho takagi stopt na wk allround in thialf
Heerenveen, woensdag, 4 maart 2026.
De Japanse topschaatster miho takagi maakt na het wk allround in heerenveen definitief een einde aan haar internationale carrière. Ze neemt afscheid in thialf, een baan die ze altijd bewonderde. Takagi won olympisch goud op de 1000 meter in peking en twee keer wereldkampioen allround en sprint. Haar samenwerking met de Nederlandse bondscoach johan de wit duurde elf jaar. Ze richtte ook team gold op, dat succes had bij de winterspelen. Takagi noemt het stoppen moeilijk, maar ziet uit naar nieuwe doelen. Haar laatste optreden wordt een emotionele afsluiting van een glansrijke loopbaan met negen wereldtitels en meerdere olympische medailles.
final race in thialf
Japanese speed skater Miho Takagi will compete for the last time at the World Allround Championships in Heerenveen. The 31-year-old announced her retirement after years at the elite level of long track speed skating [1]. She chose Thialf as her final competition venue, calling it a dream to close her career there [2]. Her participation marks the end of an era defined by consistent excellence across major international tournaments [3].
career highlights and medals
Takagi claimed Olympic gold in the 1000 meters at the Beijing Winter Games and in the team pursuit event in Pyeongchang in 2018 [2]. At the 2026 Milan Olympics, she earned three bronze medals—on the 500 meters, 1000 meters, and in the team pursuit [3]. She also secured nine world titles during her career, including victories in both allround and sprint disciplines [4]. This achievement places her among an elite group of female skaters who mastered multiple formats [3].
dominance across formats
In 2018, Takagi became world champion in the allround discipline at a temporary ice rink in Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium [2]. Two years prior, she captured the sprint world title, which she repeated in 2024 [3]. With five different women having previously won both sprint and allround championships, Takagi joined their ranks as the fifth [3]. Her versatility distinguished her from contemporaries focused solely on either sprint or distance events [4].
coaching partnership and legacy
Takagi worked closely with Dutch coach Johan de Wit for eleven years, starting in 2015 when he took over as head coach for Japan [2]. Their collaboration ended following her final competition [4]. Beyond personal success, she founded Team Gold, an international collective that achieved podium results in Milan through athlete Zhongyan Ning [4]. The initiative demonstrated her influence beyond national teams and traditional coaching structures [4].
emotional farewell and future plans
Reflecting on her decision to retire, Takagi described mixed emotions, acknowledging sadness but also excitement for life after competition [4]. “Almost sixteen years of my life have been dedicated to speed skating,” she said, admitting difficulty envisioning identity without the sport [4]. Yet she emphasized looking forward to new goals outside elite athletics [1]. Her final races in Heerenveen carry deep emotional weight for fans and fellow athletes alike [3].