'Reversed Beauty': Japanese Speed Skating Queen Miho Takagi Removes Her Uniform to Wear a Kimono, Shocking the Nation... She Has Completely Changed Since Retiring

*This content was translated by AI.

Miho Takagi (32), a legend of Japanese speed skating, drew a strong reaction from fans after she wore a kimono instead of her skating uniform.

Japan's "Daily Sports" reported on the 19th that "Takagi attended a spring garden party hosted by the Japanese Imperial Family," adding that "the atmosphere was completely different from when she races, sparking a passionate response from fans."

Takagi is the "all-rounder" queen of Japanese speed skating. At the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, she won a total of three medals, including one gold in the team pursuit. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, she secured four medals in total, including one gold in the 1st,000m and three silvers. She also added three bronze medals at the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.

Having competed in four Olympic Games, she has won a total of 10 medals—two gold, four silver, and four bronze—holding the record for the most Olympic medals ever won by a Japanese female athlete. Notably, her world record of 1 minute 49.83 seconds in the 1st,500m, set in 2019, remains unbroken.

She has excelled across all distances, from her main event, the 1st,500m middle-distance, to the 500m sprint, engaging in a long-standing friendly rivalry with Korean athletes.

Takagi, who announced her retirement from active competition at the end of this season, appeared relaxed at the spring garden party hosted by the Emperor held on the 17th and 18th.

Sharing photos taken with her team members, Takagi expressed, "Not only was the precious conversation with members of the Imperial Family meaningful, but also the time spent wearing a kimono became an incredibly noble experience."

As Takagi showcased her elegant charm in a vibrant kimono instead of her competition uniform, fans expressed surprise and praise. Netizens commented, "She is so beautiful," "The kimono suits her perfectly," "The atmosphere is completely different from the intense racing days," and "Her natural makeup looks truly stylish."

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*This content was translated by AI.