GANGNEUNG -- She didn't appear in the final, but speedskater Ayaka Kikuchi was still an important part of Japan's winning the gold medal in the women's team pursuit at the Pyeongchang Olympics on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old helped Japan win the semifinals against Canada at the Gangneung Oval, but she was replaced by Ayano Sato in the final against the Netherlands about 2 hours later. According to Ayaka's sister, short track skater Sumire Kikuchi, Ayaka had an important mission in the semifinals: to allow the two other skaters to preserve their energy and stamina -- sisters Nana and Miho Takagi -- by drafting as the expected showdown against the Netherlands loomed.
Sumire said she talked with Ayaka after Japan's preliminary round, and Ayaka expressed her determination to win. "I'm bigger physically than the others, so my job is to win the race while conserving the energy of the Takagi sisters. They're the mainstays of the team," Sumire quoted her sister as saying.
"I lay the foundation for the next race [the final]," Ayaka told Sumire.
At 1.7 meters tall, Ayaka is the tallest among the pursuit team and 15 centimeters taller than Nana Takagi, the shortest member. Ayaka's efforts were rewarded in the final, where the Takagi sisters and fresh-legged Sato edged the Netherlands by 1.59 seconds.
Ayaka has told Sumire she's considering retiring after the Pyeongchang Games.
"My sister was a substitute in the final, but she looked fantastic," Sumire said. "I feel like Japan was united as one as a team, with all the members looking in the same direction."
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