Joji Kato
Encyclopedia
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.
Until March 9, 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on November 19, 2005. He lost the world record to Kang-Seok Lee, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City.
At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships
, leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu
and Jeremy Wotherspoon
. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin
.
Prior to the 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon
of Canada, Joey Cheek
of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev
of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yuya Oikawa
, who was fourth.
He represented Japan
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver, and he won bronze at Men's 500 metres.
Long track speed skating
Speed skating is an Olympic sport where competitors are timed while crossing a set distance. It is also a sport for leisure. Sports such as short track speedskating, inline speedskating, and quad speed skating are also called speed skating...
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.
Until March 9, 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on November 19, 2005. He lost the world record to Kang-Seok Lee, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City.
At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships
World Single Distance Championships
The World Single Distance Championships are a series of speed skating competitions organised by the International Skating Union.-History:Since the late 19th century, speed skating championships were always decided by racing multiple distances – four different distances for the allround...
, leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu
Hiroyasu Shimizu
Hiroyasu Shimizu is a Japanese 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...
and Jeremy Wotherspoon
Jeremy Wotherspoon
Jeremy Lee Wotherspoon is a Canadian speed skater, widely recognized as one of the greatest speedskating sprinters of all time....
. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
.
Prior to the 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon
Jeremy Wotherspoon
Jeremy Lee Wotherspoon is a Canadian speed skater, widely recognized as one of the greatest speedskating sprinters of all time....
of Canada, Joey Cheek
Joey Cheek
+William Joseph Cheek is an American speed skater and former inline speed skater...
of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev
Dmitry Dorofeyev
Dmitry Anatolyevich Dorofeyev is a speed skater. Dmitry Dorofeyev won a silver medal in the 500 m at the 2006 Winter Olympics. His second place finish was Russia's first Olympic speed skating medal since 1994. He placed tenth in the 1,000 m event...
of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yuya Oikawa
Yūya Oikawa
is a Japanese speed skater. He competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics.- References :...
, who was fourth.
He represented Japan
Japan at the 2010 Winter Olympics
Japan participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ninety-four athletes participated in all sports except ice hockey. Japanese athletes earned five medals at the games, including three silver and two bronze, short of the 10-medal goal set by the Japanese Olympic...
at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver, and he won bronze at Men's 500 metres.