Joji Kato (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Joji Kato is a Japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below 35 seconds. Until March 9, 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on November 19, 2005. He lost the world record to Kang-Seok Lee, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City. At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.