At the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the Japanese women's speed skating team led by Miho Takagi, Ayano Sato, and Momoka Horikawa secured a spot in the semifinals by finishing second in their heat with a time of 2:55.52. The team demonstrated strong teamwork and speed, especially in the first lap, but lost momentum towards the end, narrowly surpassing the Canadian team which finished first with a time of 2:55.03. Despite this setback, Sato acknowledged the need for improvement in supporting their ace, Takagi, during the race, reflecting on their performance and areas to enhance.

Looking ahead to the semifinals, the Japanese team will face the Netherlands, who finished just behind them in the qualifiers. Sato emphasized the importance of their strong start, noting that if they replicated their initial speed in the next rounds, they would have the confidence to aim for victory. The aspirations for gold in the upcoming semifinals align with their performance goals and the challenges posed by their Dutch competitors.

As the Milan-Cortina Olympics are set to take place from February 6 to 22, 2026, the focus is now on maintaining peak performance and adjusting strategies ahead of their crucial race against the Netherlands. The team’s camaraderie and past experiences from previous competitions will undoubtedly play a critical role in their quest for the gold medal. The strong resolve expressed by Sato sets a promising tone as they prepare for the decisive rounds ahead.