Nao Kodaira

Nao Kodaira
Kodaira during the 2018 Olympics
Personal information
Native name小平 奈緒
NationalityJapanese
Born (1986-05-26) 26 May 1986 (age 38)
Chino, Nagano, Japan
Height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight61 kg (134 lb)
Sport
CountryJapan
SportSpeed skating
Event(s)500 m, 1000 m, 1500 m
Retired2022
Medal record
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2018 Pyeongchang 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2018 Pyeongchang 1000 m
Silver medal – second place 2010 Vancouver Team pursuit
World Single Distances Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gangneung 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2020 Salt Lake City 500 m
Silver medal – second place 2017 Gangneung 1000 m
Silver medal – second place 2019 Inzell 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Heerenveen 500 m
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Inzell 1000 m
World Sprint Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Calgary Sprint
Gold medal – first place 2019 Heerenveen Sprint
Silver medal – second place 2020 Hamar Sprint
Asian Winter Games
Gold medal – first place 2017 Sapporo 500 m
Gold medal – first place 2017 Sapporo 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Astana/Almaty 1500 m
Winter Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2009 Harbin 1500m
Silver medal – second place 2007 Turin 1000m
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Harbin 1000m

Nao Kodaira (Japanese: 小平 奈緒; born 26 May 1986) is a Japanese former long track speed skater who specialised in the sprint distances.

She is the 2018 Olympic champion in the 500 m distance. Kodaira is the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic gold medal in speed skating.

In 2009, she graduated from Shinshu University with a bachelor's degree in education.