"Hiroki Yokoyama emphasizes the importance of enjoying skating: Grade-A Athletes' Perspectives"

What proportion of individuals can distinguish between the competitive styles of speed skating and short track speed skating?

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2025 September 12 . 2:29 AM

2 min read

"Hiroki Yokoyama emphasizes the importance of keeping skating enjoyable" [Sports Stories]

"Hiroki Yokoyama emphasizes the importance of enjoying skating: Grade-A Athletes' Perspectives"

In the heart of the Netherlands, Hiroko Yokoyama, a rising star in short track speed skating, follows a rigorous training schedule. Each day for a month and a half, Yokoyama engages in medium-burden training, followed by a well-deserved week off. This regimen is crucial for the 26-year-old athlete as he prepares for international competition.

Hiroko Yokoyama, who goes by the nickname Yoko, was born on February 18, 1994, in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, and moved to Kobe before the age of 2. His love for sports began as a child, with a varied background that included gymnastics, long-distance running, tennis, swimming, and ice hockey.

Yokoyama's journey into short track speed skating started when he was in his fourth year of elementary school. A teacher at a skating school spotted his potential and encouraged him to pursue the sport. Yokoyama joined a local club where he could skate freely, and with dedication and hard work, he quickly improved.

Yokoyama's talent was recognised early on, and he was selected to represent Japan in the Asian Open Short Track Speed Skating Trophy, an Asian-region international competition, when he was a junior high school student. His first Olympic Games experience at PyeongChang 2018 left him with an unpleasant aftertaste, as he was eliminated in the 1,500-meter preliminaries. However, this setback only fueled his determination to win and prepare better.

Coach Yuzo Takamido believes that Yokoyama needs to learn how to continually skate at varying speeds to win at the world level. Coach Takamido also emphasises the importance of building Yokoyama's body to withstand competition with bigger overseas skaters. This is particularly important as short track speed skating involves multiple skaters starting at the same time on a smaller, 111.12-meter oval track to see who can cross the finish line first.

Yokoyama's drive to win and prepare better has grown stronger after PyeongChang 2018. He found that he really wanted to win and needed to take his short track speed skating to the next level during the Winter Universiade. Yokoyama finished fourth in both the 500 meters and the 1,500 meters during the Winter Universiade, an international event organized for university athletes.

To further his training and gain insights for his own growth, Yokoyama is currently training in the Netherlands. Head Coach Satoru Terao aims to raise Japan's overall competitive ability by implementing what is learned in the Netherlands and adding Japan's unique character.

Yokoyama works in Toyota Motor Corporation's Material Engineering Division No. 1, but his passion for short track speed skating remains undiminished. He attended Kwansei Gakuin Junior High School, Kwansei Gakuin Senior High School, and Kwansei Gakuin University, but his commitment to his sport required him to switch rinks after his normal rink in Kobe closed down, and the new one in Osaka had a more formalized training routine.

Despite the lack of surveys conducted between April 2019 and today specifically addressing the public's knowledge of the differences between speed skating and short track speed skating, it is clear that Yokoyama's dedication and hard work are making a significant impact in the world of short track speed skating. With his sights set on future competitions, Yokoyama continues to train and strive for excellence.