Gangneung, Korea, January 18, 2024: Even though she retired from international competition two years ago, Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira still cannot escape the winter sports spotlight.
Kodaira, who competed in four Olympic Winter Games from Vancouver 2010 to Beijing 2022, is attending the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 as an Athlete Role Model, appointed by the International Olympic Committee.
Thanks to her fame and popularity in winter sports, particularly in Korea, the PyeongChang 2018 500m speed skating sprint gold medallist is the centre of attention in the Winter YOG Village in Gangneung.
With her short-cropped hair and youthful appearance – looking considerably younger than her 37 years – Kodaira was helping to promote clean sport at the WADA kiosk in between posing for souvenir photos with speed skating fans.
“I am very happy to be here at the Winter Youth Olympic Games as an Athlete Role Model,” she said.
“I competed in four Winter Olympics and it feels good to be back at the Olympics to enjoy the special atmosphere of winter sports.”
Kodaira, who is now living back in her home city of Nagano, knows all about the anti-doping procedure, and says she was tested 110 times in her career. She remembers it well because she kept all the documentation.
With her experience at the highest level of winter sports and her longevity through four Winter Olympics, Kodaira is proving to be a smart IOC appointment as an Athlete Role Model.