Poised to be one of Japan's star performers at the Beijing Winter Olympics, Miho Takagi is expected to contend for medals across five different speedskating events.
Already a multiple Olympic medal winner, having brought home gold, silver and bronze four years ago, the 27-year-old will head to the Feb. 4 to 20 games riding a wave of confidence following an outstanding World Cup season.
Takagi has been a key player in the 1,500 meters since taking silver four years ago in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and she is tipped to make a run at improving her own 1-minute, 49.83-second world record over the distance at Beijing's state-of-the-art National Speed Skating Oval.