Speed skating-Japan's Olympic champion Kodaira to retire

FILE PHOTO: Speed Skating - ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series - Heerenveen, Netherlands - March 12, 2022 Japan's Nao Kodaira in action during the women's 500m REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

(Reuters) - Japan's former Olympic speed skating champion Nao Kodaira will retire from the sport in October following a final race in her hometown of Nagano, the long track speed skater said on Tuesday.

The 35-year-old won Olympic gold in the women's 500 metres in Pyeongchang four years ago, as well as a silver in the 1,000 metres. She also won a silver in the team pursuit event in Vancouver 2010, alongside Masako Hozumi and Maki Tabata.