1. Overview
Keiichiro Nagashima (長島 圭一郎Nagashima KeiichirōJapanese, born April 20, 1982) is a Japanese long track speed skater who specialized in sprint distances, primarily the 500 and 1000 meters. A silver medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics in the men's 500m, Nagashima achieved significant success throughout his career, including multiple World Cup victories and podium finishes at World Sprint Championships and Asian Winter Games. After retiring from competitive skating, he transitioned into coaching, notably becoming the head coach for the Japanese national short track speed skating team. His career is marked by his distinctive skating style, consistent performance at a high level, and a notable public persona.
2. Early life and education
Keiichiro Nagashima's early life and educational journey laid the foundation for his distinguished career in speed skating.
2.1. Childhood and family background
Born on April 20, 1982, in Ikeda, Nakagawa District, Hokkaido, Nagashima grew up in a family engaged in livestock farming. He began skating at the early age of three, following in the footsteps of his two older sisters. During his middle school years, in addition to being part of the skating club, he also played for the baseball team, where he was a third baseman. Although he initially harbored a desire to continue playing baseball in high school, he ultimately pursued skating due to the opportunity for a scholarship in that sport.
2.2. Academic and amateur career
Nagashima enrolled in Hokkaido Ikeda High School, where he initially focused on long-distance speed skating. His senior at Hokkaido Ikeda High School was Yu Oikawa, who also competed in the 2006 Turin Olympics. However, his times were not improving, leading him to switch to sprint distances in the autumn of his third year. This transition quickly yielded remarkable results; within just three months, he won the 500m event at the All Japan Junior Speed Skating Championships and the 1000m event at the National High School Championships (Inter-High).
Following high school, Nagashima matriculated at Nihon University, studying in the Department of Physical Education within the Faculty of Letters and Sciences. During his university years, he excelled in intercollegiate ice skating competitions. His amateur career culminated in a gold medal in the 500m event at the 2003 (often referred to as 2004, due to the academic year's overlap) Winter Universiade held in Innsbruck.
3. Speed skating career
Keiichiro Nagashima's professional speed skating career was characterized by consistent performance at the highest level, marked by significant achievements in both domestic and international competitions.
3.1. Early professional development and domestic success
After graduating from Nihon University in 2005, Nagashima joined Nidec Sankyo, a company known for its speed skating team. In his debut professional season, he secured the overall victory at the All Japan Sprint Championships. His international World Cup debut came in December 2004 at a sprint event in Nagano, where he finished third, just 0.05 seconds behind joint winners Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. Despite this strong start, he found it challenging to maintain that level of performance throughout the rest of the season, with his best subsequent placing being 13th in Erfurt, ultimately finishing 18th in the overall World Cup standings for the 500m. He finished seventh in the 100 metre World Cup, however, after taking fifth place in Heerenveen.
In the 2006 season, Nagashima earned his first domestic medal, a bronze at the Japanese 2 × 500 metre championships, 0.610 points behind Joji Kato. He was again selected for the World Cup circuit, achieving four top-ten finishes. In December 2005, he opted to return to Japan to compete in the Japanese Sprint Championships, which he won with a total of 141.985 points, narrowly beating silver medalist Yusuke Imai by just over 0.05 points. The 500-metre-record-holder and Japanese champion, Kato, did not participate. However, at the World Sprint Championships in Heerenveen a month later, Imai was well ahead of Nagashima; Nagashima finished 22nd in the overall classification and was not in the top ten on any distance. Nagashima did beat Kato and Shimizu, however. In the 2006-2007 season, Nagashima demonstrated remarkable form by winning both the 500m and 1000m events at the Japanese Single Distance Championships in October. This qualified him for the opening World Cup races in Heerenveen, Netherlands, where he secured his first World Cup victory in the 500m on November 10, 2006, with a time of 35.10 seconds, followed by another win in the same distance two days later. He also achieved his best placing on the 1000 metres, with 12th in the first race. In 2009, he set a new Japanese national record in the 1000m with a time of 1 minute, 8.09 seconds.
3.2. Olympic Games participation
Nagashima competed in three consecutive Winter Olympic Games, achieving his most significant success at the 2010 Vancouver Games. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he finished 13th in the men's 500m and 32nd in the 1000m. He was the third-best Japanese skater in the 500m.
His career highlight came at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In the men's 500m event, he earned a silver medal, finishing just 0.16 seconds behind Mo Tae-Bum of South Korea across two races. However, his experience in the 1000m event at the same Olympics was less successful; he was twice affected by start troubles and noise, which disrupted his rhythm and resulted in a 37th-place finish. Nagashima also participated in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, where he placed 6th in the men's 500m.
3.3. World and Asian Championships
Nagashima consistently performed well at major international championships beyond the Olympics. He earned a silver medal at the 2009 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships held in Moscow. The following year, he secured a bronze medal at the 2010 World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Obihiro, Japan. His success extended to the Asian stage, where he claimed a bronze medal in the men's 500m at the 2011 Asian Winter Games held in Astana and Almaty.
4. Retirement and post-competitive activities
Keiichiro Nagashima's career path evolved after his competitive skating days, including attempts at comebacks and a transition into coaching.
4.1. Retirement and comeback attempts
Nagashima initially announced his retirement from competitive speed skating on April 17, 2015. However, driven by a desire to compete once more, he later attempted a comeback with the aim of participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang. Despite his efforts, he was unable to qualify for the Olympics. Consequently, he announced his final retirement from the sport in December 2017.
4.2. Coaching career
After his final retirement, Nagashima transitioned into a coaching role, focusing on short track speed skating. On April 26, 2018, his appointment as the head coach of the Japanese national short track speed skating team was officially approved by the Japan Skating Federation's board of directors. In this capacity, he now leads the national team in training and competition.
4.3. Personal life and marriage
Nagashima has Blood type B. On October 23, 2018, Keiichiro Nagashima married fellow Japanese speed skater Ayaka Kikuchi. Kikuchi is also an accomplished athlete, notably a gold medalist in the women's team pursuit event at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics.
5. Personal aspects and anecdotes
Keiichiro Nagashima is recognized not only for his athletic achievements but also for his distinctive skating style, amiable personality, and memorable moments throughout his career.
5.1. Skating style and talent
Nagashima stands 5.7 ft (1.74 m) tall and weighs 154 lb (70 kg). During his high school years, Nagashima was considered slender among his peers in speed skating. However, his skating talent was immediately apparent to his coaches. The then-director of his skating club was reportedly astonished by Nagashima's roller skating practice, observing his exceptionally smooth movements and outstanding balance, leading him to believe Nagashima possessed a natural genius for the sport. Another advisor even instructed the coaching staff not to interfere with Nagashima's technique, recognizing his innate and powerful ability. Nagashima's refined skating form has since garnered praise from coaches around the world.
5.2. Personality and public image
Nagashima is known for his bright and outgoing personality. He is often seen engaging in conversations and sharing meals with athletes from other teams, reflecting his sociable nature. During the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, he was observed playing soccer with fellow speed skater Miho Takagi during breaks in their training schedule, showcasing his relaxed demeanor even during high-pressure competitions.
5.3. Notable incidents and honors
Following his silver medal performance at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Nagashima's employer, Nidec Sankyo, announced an extraordinary "two-rank promotion," elevating him to the position of section chief. During the press conference for this announcement, the company president humorously remarked that Nagashima could aspire to become president if he continued to win gold medals. Nagashima, known for his quick wit, reportedly responded by greeting attendees with, "Hello, I'm Nagashima, the next president," a remark that became a memorable anecdote.
6. Legacy and evaluation
Keiichiro Nagashima's career has left a lasting impact on Japanese speed skating. As an Olympic silver medalist and a consistent performer in sprint distances, he was a prominent figure who helped elevate Japan's presence in international speed skating. His transition into coaching the national short track team further demonstrates his commitment to the sport's development beyond his competitive years. Through his achievements and continued involvement, Nagashima has served as an inspiration for aspiring skaters and contributed significantly to the legacy of speed skating in Japan.