Former world silver medalist Sammiya to hang up blades

Former world silver medalist Sammiya to hang up blades

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese world silver medalist Eriko Sammiya tells a news conference in Tokyo on April 11 that she plans to retire from speed skating. She only managed to finish 11th in the women's 500 meters in Salt Lake City.

(5)Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games end

(5)Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games end

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Japan's speed skater Eriko Sammiya carries the Japanese flag during the closing ceremony for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Feb. 24.

(1)Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games open

(1)Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games open

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Speed skater Eriko Sammiya leads the 218-member Japanese delegation, the nation's largest-ever winter sports group to be sent to an Olympics overseas, into the Rice-Eccles Stadium on Feb. 8.

Osuga beats Sammiya to win women's 500

Osuga beats Sammiya to win women's 500

NAGANO, Japan - Olympic hopeful Sayuri Osuga relaxes after defeating world sprint silver medalist Eriko Sammiya to bag the women's 500-meter title in the speed skating single-distance national championships meet at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Nov. 4.

Tonoike exults in first World Cup victory

Tonoike exults in first World Cup victory

NAGANO, Japan - Aki Tonoike waves to fans and supporters in the stands at the M-Wave indoor ice arena on Dec. 17 after notching her first speed skating World Cup victory with a time of 1:17.07 in the women's 1,000 meters. Reigning world champion Monique Garbrecht-Endfeldt of Germany was second and compatriot Eriko Sammiya third.

Sammiya wins women's 1,000m at speed skating World Cup meet

Sammiya wins women's 1,000m at speed skating World Cup meet

NAGANO, Japan - Eriko Sammiya (C) emerges as a double medalist Dec. 16 and snares her second World Cup gold medal in six days in the 1,000 meters while also taking silver in the 500. Sammiya edged reigning world champion Monique Garbrecht-Endfeldt (L) of Germany. Japanese compatriot Aki Tonoike finished third.

Osuga beats Sammiya to win women's 500

Osuga beats Sammiya to win women's 500

NAGANO, Japan - Olympic hopeful Sayuri Osuga relaxes after defeating world sprint silver medalist Eriko Sammiya to bag the women's 500-meter title in the speed skating single-distance national championships meet at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Nov. 4.

Former world silver medalist Sammiya to hang up blades

Former world silver medalist Sammiya to hang up blades

TOKYO, Japan - Former Japanese world silver medalist Eriko Sammiya tells a news conference in Tokyo on April 11 that she plans to retire from speed skating. She only managed to finish 11th in the women's 500 meters in Salt Lake City.

Harada, Sammiya set to captain Japan at Salt Lake City

Harada, Sammiya set to captain Japan at Salt Lake City

TOKYO, Japan - Olympic ski jumping gold medalist Masahiko Harada (R) and leading speed skater Eriko Sammiya (L) are set to be named as joint captains of the Japan team at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. The appointments will be officially announced after the next Japan Olympic Committee meeting on Jan. 11.

(5)Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games end

(5)Salt Lake Winter Olympic Games end

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Japan's speed skater Eriko Sammiya carries the Japanese flag during the closing ceremony for the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Feb. 24.

(1)Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games open

(1)Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games open

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Speed skater Eriko Sammiya leads the 218-member Japanese delegation, the nation's largest-ever winter sports group to be sent to an Olympics overseas, into the Rice-Eccles Stadium on Feb. 8.

Tonoike exults in first World Cup victory

Tonoike exults in first World Cup victory

NAGANO, Japan - Aki Tonoike waves to fans and supporters in the stands at the M-Wave indoor ice arena on Dec. 17 after notching her first speed skating World Cup victory with a time of 1:17.07 in the women's 1,000 meters. Reigning world champion Monique Garbrecht-Endfeldt of Germany was second and compatriot Eriko Sammiya third.

Sammiya wins women's 1,000m at speed skating World Cup meet

Sammiya wins women's 1,000m at speed skating World Cup meet

NAGANO, Japan - Eriko Sammiya (C) emerges as a double medalist Dec. 16 and snares her second World Cup gold medal in six days in the 1,000 meters while also taking silver in the 500. Sammiya edged reigning world champion Monique Garbrecht-Endfeldt (L) of Germany. Japanese compatriot Aki Tonoike finished third.