At the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Miho Takagi achieved an impressive bronze medal finish in the women's 500 meters speed skating event with a time of 37.27 seconds. This performance was especially noteworthy following her prior mixed feelings after winning a bronze in the 1000 meters just six days earlier. However, on this occasion, her emotions were overwhelmingly positive as she celebrated her podium finish with joy, demonstrating her strong competitive spirit and elation as she embraced coach Johan David.

Despite not matching her personal best time of 37.12 seconds, which she set during the Beijing Olympics, Takagi said she was pleased with this latest performance, especially as she had not been fully committed to this season’s 500-meter event, previously only competing once in a lower-tier World Cup. Takagi viewed her participation as an essential step towards her primary goal of excelling in the 1500 meters. Her performance exceeded her expectations, and she expressed her delight at achieving a medal she had not anticipated, signifying a positive turn in her competitive journey.

With two bronze medals now under her belt, Takagi is not satisfied and aims to disrupt this pattern in the upcoming team pursuit event. As she prepares for her remaining races, including the much-coveted 1500 meters, she expressed determination to pursue the gold medal, highlighting her strong commitment and focus. The upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics from February 6 to 22, 2026, promise to showcase this determined athlete's pursuit of further Olympic glory.