Yukino Yoshida's first Olympic experience at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games ended with a disappointing 13th place finish in the women's 500 meter speed skating event. Despite being considered a medal contender, Yoshida faced unexpected difficulties, including a false start due to a slow setup, which impacted her mental focus and led to mistakes during the race. Her performance fell short of expectations, resulting in her worst ranking of the season without any falls during the race.

Although Yoshida has publicly expressed her disdain for skating, she has persevered through challenging training with the intention to repay her coach, Etsunori Uetsuki, for his support during her formative years at Morioka Technical High School. Last season, she achieved her first World Cup victory and entered the Olympics with a determination to win a medal, which she had pledged would conclude her career. Following her race, she reflected on not being able to end her career in this way and committed to moving forward and training harder.

Hiroyasu Shimizu, who has been advising Yoshida since last year, expressed a deep emotional connection to her journey. He noted how agonizing it was to watch her participate in this event, particularly given that balance issues marred her performance in the early stages of the race, something that is typically a strength for her. The pressures of the Olympics often magnify the challenges faced, making it a stark contrast to regular international competitions, highlighting the growth potential for athletes like Yoshida as they seek to overcome obstacles in their careers.