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Joji Kato

Japan

SportSpeed Skating
FederationIDSSJPN10602198501
NOCJapan
Born06 Feb 1985 in  Yamagata
GenderMen
LanguagesJapanese
OccupationAthlete
FamilyOne daughter
Personal Bests
EventRecordDateLocation 
Personal Bests
  Event RecordDateLocation 
    500m 34.21 26 Jan 2013 Salt Lake City, UT  
    1000m 1:08.68 29 Jan 2012 Calgary  
    1500m 1:57.38 31 Oct 2004 Nagano  
Main Achievements
 
Main Achievements
Olympic Games
Event  
Olympic Games
    2 x 500m     1  
World Single Distances Championships
Event  
World Single Distances Championships
    2 x 500m   2 1  
    500m 1      
General Interest
General Interest
InjuriesHe began experiencing problems with his right knee in 2015. He took some time off at the beginning of the 2016/17 season in order to recover from the problem. (hochi.co.jp, 19 Oct 2017; Athlete, 27 Jan 2017; chunichi.co.jp, 22 Oct 2015)

He sustained injuries to his face in 2010. (Athlete, 05 Dec 2015)

He suffered a chest infection at the end of 2005. It affected his performances for a number of months, including at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin. (japantimes.co.jp, 03 Feb 2009)
 
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Reason for choosing this sportHe was encouraged to try skating by his older brother.  
When and where did you begin this sport?He began the sport at age six in Yamagata, Japan.  
Club / TeamHakujikai Group: Suwa, JPN  
General Interest
General Interest
AmbitionsTo compete at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. (hochi.co.jp, 01 Jun 2018)  
Sporting philosophy / motto"Have composure." (Athlete, 27 Jan 2017)  
Social Media
Social Media
www.facebook.com/joji.kato.52  
General Interest
General Interest
Most influential person in careerHis older brother. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2017)  
Awards and honoursIn 2018 he received the Nagano Citizen Honorary Award in Japan. (sankei.com, 04 Apr 2018)

In 2017 he was given an Excellence Award by the Nagano Skate Association in Japan. (skating-nsa.jp, 20 May 2018)

In 2011 he received the Yamagata Prefecture Sports Grand Prize in Japan. (47news.jp, 19 Jul 2011)
 
Other informationCOACHING
He served as head coach of the Nidec Sankyo speed skating club in Japan from 2016 until 2017. (mainichi.jp, 23 Mar 2017; nikkansports.com, 13 Jun 2016)

BREAK
He decided to take some time away from the sport following the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. He returned to competition during the 2015/16 season. (nikkei.com, 22 Oct 2015)
 
Social Media
Social Media
twitter.com/jockyyyy  
General Interest
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievementSetting a world record in the 500m at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships in Inzell, Germany. (Athlete, 27 Jan 2017; sports.yahoo.co.jp, 18 Feb 2018)  
Sport Specific Information
Sport Specific Information
Name of coachJohan de Wit [national], NED; Dennis van der Gun [national], NED  
Championships results
Year Competition Event Rank  
Championships results
    2004/2005 World Single Distances Championships 500m1  
    2012/2013 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m2  
    2010/2011 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m2  
    2007/2008 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m3  
    2010 Olympic Games 2 x 500m3  
    2011/2012 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m4  
    2014 Olympic Games 2 x 500m5  
    2006 Olympic Games 2 x 500m6  
    2006/2007 World Single Distances Championships 500m6  
    2018 Olympic Games 500m6  
    2016/2017 World Single Distances Championships 500m8  
    2011/2012 World Sprint Championships Overall8  
    2004/2005 World Sprint Championships Overall9  
    2002/2003 World Single Distances Championships 500m12  
    2008/2009 World Single Distances Championships 2 x 500m12  
    2003/2004 World Single Distances Championships 500m15  
    2007/2008 World Sprint Championships Overall20  
    2012/2013 World Sprint Championships Overall22  
    2005/2006 World Sprint Championships Overall28  
World Cups
Year Competition Event Rank  
World Cups
    2005/2006 Salt Lake City, UT 500m1  
    2005/2006 Turin 500m1  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 100m1  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 100m1  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 100m1  
    2007/2008 Inzell 100m1  
    2008/2009 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2009/2010 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2008/2009 Berlin 500m1  
    2007/2008 Inzell 500m1  
    2010/2011 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 500m1  
    2010/2011 Berlin 500m1  
    2012/2013 Harbin 500m1  
    2010/2011 Obihiro 500m1  
    2011/2012 Chelyabinsk 500m1  
    2005/2006 Salt Lake City, UT 500m1  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification 500m2  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 500m2  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 100m2  
    2006/2007 Calgary 100m2  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 100m2  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 100m2  
    2004/2005 Harbin 500m2  
    2007/2008 Inzell 100m2  
    2004/2005 Erfurt 500m2  
    2002/2003 Harbin 500m2  
    2002/2003 Salt Lake City, UT 500m2  
    2002/2003 Inzell 100m2  
    2013/2014 Salt Lake City, UT 500m1  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2013/2014 Berlin 500m2  
    2004/2005 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2009/2010 Calgary 500m2  
    2012/2013 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2012/2013 Calgary, AB 500m2  
    2010/2011 Changchun 500m2  
    2012/2013 Erfurt 500m2  
    2012/2013 Erfurt 500m2  
    2010/2011 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2007/2008 Heerenveen 500m2  
    2002/2003 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 100m3  
    2010/2011 World Cup Classification 500m3  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 100m3  
    2008/2009 Kolomna 100m3  
    2004/2005 Nagano 500m3  
    2003/2004 Salt Lake City, UT 100m3  
    2004/2005 Harbin 500m3  
    2004/2005 Calgary 500m3  
    2007/2008 Inzell 100m3  
    2004/2005 Harbin 100m3  
    2002/2003 Nagano 500m3  
    2004/2005 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2011/2012 Heerenveen 500m3  
    2008/2009 Nagano 500m3  
    2012/2013 Harbin 500m3  
    2008/2009 Nagano 500m3  
    2005/2006 Turin 500m2  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 100m4  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 100m4  
    2006/2007 Calgary 500m3  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification 500m5  
    2005/2006 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 500m6  
    2008/2009 World Cup Classification 100m7  
    2007/2008 World Cup Classification 500m7  
    2003/2004 World Cup Classification 500m8  
    2012/2013 World Cup Classification Overall9  
    2009/2010 World Cup Classification 500m9  
    2006/2007 World Cup Classification 500m9  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification 500m12  
    2011/2012 World Cup Classification Overall22  
    2015/2016 World Cup Classification 500m22  
    2002/2003 World Cup Classification 1000m24  
    2017/2018 World Cup Classification 500m27  
    2013/2014 World Cup Classification Overall28  
    2004/2005 World Cup Classification 1000m34