Imai third in men's 1,000 meters

Imai third in men's 1,000 meters

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Yusuke Imai (R) who finished third in the men's 1,000 poses on the podium with gold medal winner Shani Davis (C) and silver medal winner Cheek (L), both of the United States.

Tonoike 2nd in World Cup 1,000-meter race

Tonoike 2nd in World Cup 1,000-meter race

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Aki Tonoike (L) who came second in the women's 1,000 in a World Cup meet poses on the podium with Germany's Anni Friesinger (C) who won the race and Paulien van Deutekom of the Netherlands who was third.

Oikawa 2nd in World Cup 500-meter race

Oikawa 2nd in World Cup 500-meter race

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Yuya Oikawa (L), who took second in the men's 500 meters in a World Cup meet on Jan. 28, smiles on the podium with Joey Cheek (R) of the United States who won the race.

Okazaki comes in 2nd in women's 500-meter at World Cup

Okazaki comes in 2nd in women's 500-meter at World Cup

COLLALBO, Italy - Tomomi Okazaki of Japan poses with local children for a photo after coming in second in the women's 500- meter race division A at the World Cup Speed Skating competition in Collalbo, Italy, on Feb. 15.

Kobayashi wins men's 500-meter at World Cup Speed Skating

Kobayashi wins men's 500-meter at World Cup Speed Skating

COLLALBO, Italy - Masaaki Kobayashi of Japan is flanked by Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada (L) and Ryohei Shimizu of Japan on the podium after winning the men's 500-meter race division A at the World Cup Speed Skating competition in Collalbo, Italy, on Feb. 15. Wotherspoon came in second, followed by Shimizu.

Tonoike 2nd in World Cup 1,000-meter race

Tonoike 2nd in World Cup 1,000-meter race

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Aki Tonoike (L) who came second in the women's 1,000 in a World Cup meet poses on the podium with Germany's Anni Friesinger (C) who won the race and Paulien van Deutekom of the Netherlands who was third. (Kyodo)

Oikawa 2nd in World Cup 500-meter race

Oikawa 2nd in World Cup 500-meter race

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Yuya Oikawa (L), who took second in the men's 500 meters in a World Cup meet on Jan. 28, smiles on the podium with Joey Cheek (R) of the United States who won the race. (Kyodo)

Imai third in men's 1,000 meters

Imai third in men's 1,000 meters

COLLALBO, Italy - Japanese speed skater Yusuke Imai (R) who finished third in the men's 1,000 poses on the podium with gold medal winner Shani Davis (C) and silver medal winner Cheek (L), both of the United States. (Kyodo)

Okazaki comes in 2nd in women's 500-meter at World Cup

Okazaki comes in 2nd in women's 500-meter at World Cup

COLLALBO, Italy - Tomomi Okazaki of Japan poses with local children for a photo after coming in second in the women's 500- meter race division A at the World Cup Speed Skating competition in Collalbo, Italy, on Feb. 15. (Kyodo)

Kobayashi wins men's 500-meter at World Cup Speed Skating

Kobayashi wins men's 500-meter at World Cup Speed Skating

COLLALBO, Italy - Masaaki Kobayashi of Japan is flanked by Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada (L) and Ryohei Shimizu of Japan on the podium after winning the men's 500-meter race division A at the World Cup Speed Skating competition in Collalbo, Italy, on Feb. 15. Wotherspoon came in second, followed by Shimizu. (Kyodo)