TOKYO - Speed skater Miho Takagi, who won a record 10 Olympic medals for a Japanese woman, received the People's Honor Award from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at an event in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The honor comes after Takagi, 32, announced her retirement in April. Her career saw her compete in four Olympic Winter Games and win 10 medals including two gold, four silver and four bronze -- the most ever by a Japanese female athlete in summer or winter games.
The Hokkaido native made her Olympic debut aged 15 at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Her two gold medals came in the women's team pursuit, which she won with her older sister Nana at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, and in the 1,000 meters at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.
At February's Milan Cortina Olympic Games, she won three bronze medals in the 500 meters, 1,000 meters, and team pursuit. She also secured 38 individual World Cup wins in her career and holds the women's speedskating world record at 1,500 meters.
Takagi is the 29th recipient of the award established in 1977. It has been given to 28 individuals and one group in recognition for their achievements in sports, entertainment and culture.
The last person to receive the award was wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda, who was honored in March 2023.
