Rival speedsters in friendly reunion

Lee Sang-hwa, right, and Nao Kodaira. The two top speed skaters attended a talk show Thursday about how Tokyo can emulate the success of the PyeongChang Games in 2020. / Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

Two months ago, at the PyeongChang Olympics, the two speed skaters were arch rivals.

Now in Tokyo for a special event and out of uniform, they were behaving more like best friends. In PyeongChang, Lee Sang-hwa, winner of the women's 500-meter sprint gold medals for two consecutive Olympics, settled for a silver, while Nao Kodaira got the gold.

“When we are together, laughter is spontaneous,” Lee said, but added a condition: “Not in a competition.”

Lee remembered crying after discovering she didn't win the gold at PyeongChang. “I burst into tears when Kodaira gave me heartwarming consolation.” Kodaira gave the crying Lee a hug.

After their Tokyo meeting, Kodaira shared a photo of the two on her Twitter account.

“I wanted a little more private time with her, shopping and eating delicious food together, but I have to head back to Nagano for tomorrow's training,” her tweet reads.

A screen shot from Kodaira's Twitter account

She promised to have more time together the next time they meet.

Luge racer Park Jin-yong, Lee Hee-beom, president of the PyeongChang Olympics Organizing Committee, and Ambassador for Public Diplomacy Park Enna also attended the Tokyo talk show.

Attendees from the Japanese side include cross-country skier Yoshihiro Nitta, Toshiaki Endo, acting minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and Daichi Suzuki, commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency.

Park Ji-won contributed reporting.