Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics Speed skating at the 1984 Winter Olympics was held from 9 February to 18 February. Nine events were contested at Zetra Ice Rink. East Germany topped the medal table with four gold medals, and eleven total, including a complete sweep of gold and silver medals in the four women's events. This was only the second Games in which the United States did not win a speed skating medal, and as of 2018, the only time since 1960 the Netherlands did not win a medal in the sport. Japan's Yoshihiro Kitazawa won his country's
Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics Japan at the 2006 Winter Olympics Japan competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. Shizuka Arakawa won the country's only medal, a gold, in women's figure skating. She was the first person born and raised in Asia to become an Olympic champion in that event. Athletes representing Japan participated in all but one of the 2006 Olympics' 15 sports, with Ice hockey the only exception. At 24 years and 56 days old, Shizuka Arakawa was the oldest female figure skater to win the gold medal in 86 years. Team: Ayumi Onodera (skip), Yumie Hayashi, Mari Motohashi, Moe Meguro,