A rare Japanese long distance specialist, Hiromi Yamamoto was unknown in speed skating circles until 1994. After winning two Asian distance titles, she suddenly placed second in a 3,000 m World Cup. Given no more than an outsider chance to medal at the Olympics, she then surprised all by taking home the 5,000 m bronze. Her Olympic medal was the first for a Japanese female skater; it also turned out to be Yamamoto’s only major success. In 1994/1995, she achieved some World Cup results before retiring at the end of the season. Yamamoto later married ice hockey player Takeshi Yamanaka, who played for the same factory team as Yamamoto, the Oji Paper Company.
Personal Bests: 500 - 43.46 (1988); 1000 - 1:27.92 (1990); 1500 - 2:06.54 (1994); 3000 - 4:19.88 (1994); 5000 - 7:19.68 (1994).
Japan