Nao Kodaira, who won the gold medal in the women's 500m speed skating race at the Pyeongchang Olympics, visited the venue of the Youth Olympics being held in South Korea and reunited with her rival and best friend Lee Sang-hwa of South Korea. .
Kodaira sent a message to the young players, saying, ``I want them to fight well and praise each other.''
In the women's 500m speed skating race at the Pyeongchang Olympics held in 2018, Kodaira, who won the gold medal, and Lee Sang-hwa, who had won the silver medal in the local competition for the third time in a row, looked at each other after the race. The sight of them praising each other moved many people.
The Youth Olympics, which is being held in South Korea, uses many of the venues of the Pyeongchang Olympics, and the two visited Gangneung Oval, where they competed for the gold medal six years ago.
It will be the first time since 2022 that the two, who were rivals and best friends during their active days, will meet face-to-face.When Lee arrived at the venue first, Kodaira appeared in front of him, and the two smiled and hugged each other before saying a few words. We were exchanging
Lee said, ``I'm very moved to be able to stand here with Kodaira-san again.I feel like I'm a player again, and I can't help but wonder if I'll ever play here again.'' .
Kodaira said, ``I have great memories of skating at this venue for the sake of our mutual dreams and challenges, and I'm very happy to be able to meet again at this venue this time.I would also like to express my gratitude to the athletes who will be participating this time. I want them to have good fights where they praise each other,'' he said, sending a message to the young players.
Kodaira will serve as an ``athlete role model'' at the Youth Olympics, where she will share her experience with young athletes, and will be interacting with athletes at the Olympic Village and other locations during the Games.