Hiroyasu Shimizu
Encyclopedia
Hiroyasu Shimizu (清水宏保 in Japanese, born February 27, 1974 in Obihiro, Hokkaidō
, Japan
) is a Japan
ese speed skater. He has an Olympic Gold medal from 1998 in the 500m and his win made him a hero in his home country. He currently holds the world record for the 100m speed skating event in 9.43 seconds. He formerly held the 500m record (34.32) but was later beaten by fellow Japanese skater Joji Kato
.
He is well known for his physical handicaps, with a height of only 162 cm, and he has an asthma
, for which he was featured in a commercial of an asthma drug of GlaxoSmithKline
.
He married a Japanese fashion model Reiko Takagaki (高垣麗子).
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
) is a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese speed skater. He has an Olympic Gold medal from 1998 in the 500m and his win made him a hero in his home country. He currently holds the world record for the 100m speed skating event in 9.43 seconds. He formerly held the 500m record (34.32) but was later beaten by fellow Japanese skater Joji Kato
Joji Kato
is a Japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below 35 seconds....
.
He is well known for his physical handicaps, with a height of only 162 cm, and he has an asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, for which he was featured in a commercial of an asthma drug of GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
.
He married a Japanese fashion model Reiko Takagaki (高垣麗子).