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Okazaki takes overall lead at nat'l sprint c'ships

CHINO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki places first in the women's 500 meters to post the best total score on the opening day of the national sprint championships at Chino sports park skate center on Dec. 28.

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Speed skater Okazaki fails in Olympics selection, to retire

NAGANO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki holds her daughter Anjyu at M-WAVE in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2013, after finishing sixth in the women's 500 meters event at the qualifying race for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Okazaki, who won bronze medal in the women's 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, announced her retirement after the event.

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Speed skater Okazaki fails in Olympics selection, to retire

NAGANO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki holds her daughter Anjyu at M-WAVE in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2013, after finishing sixth in the women's 500 meters event at the qualifying race for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. Okazaki, who won bronze medal in the women's 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, announced her retirement after the event.

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Speed skater Okazaki fails in Olympics selection, to retire

NAGANO, Japan - Tomomi Okazaki, who won a bronze medal in the women's 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, competes in a qualifying race for the Sochi Games at M-Wave in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2013. Okazaki announced her retirement after finishing sixth in the race.

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Speed skater Okazaki fails in Olympics selection, to retire

NAGANO, Japan - Tomomi Okazaki (L), who won a bronze medal in the women's 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, competes in a qualifying race for the Sochi Games at M-Wave in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2013. Okazaki announced her retirement after finishing sixth in the race.

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Speed skater Okazaki fails in Olympics selection, to retire

NAGANO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, who won a bronze medal in the women's 500 meters at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, waves at M-Wave in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2013, after skating in the qualifying race for the Sochi Games. Okazaki announced her retirement after finishing sixth in the race.

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Okazaki 34th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki waves to the crowd after finishing the race in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Okazaki placed 34th with the time of 1 minute, 19.41 seconds.

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Takagi 35th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's 15-year-old skater Miho Takagi hugs compatriot Tomomi Okazaki after finishing the race in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Takagi, the youngest speed skater to represent Japan in the Olympics, placed 35th, while veteran speed skater Okazaki placed 34th.

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Okazaki 34th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki skates during the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Okazaki placed 34th with the time of 1 minute, 19.41 seconds.

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Okazaki 34th in women's 1,000m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki skates during the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada on Feb. 18, 2010. Okazaki placed 34th with the time of 1 minute, 19.41 seconds.

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Okazaki finishes 16th in women's 500-m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki skates during her second and final race in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Okazaki came in 16th place with an overall time of 78.03 seconds.

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Okazaki finishes 16th in women's 500-m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki acknowledges the crowd after finishing her race in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Okazaki came in 16th place with an overall time of 78.03 seconds.

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Okazaki finishes 16th in women's 500-m speed skating

RICHMOND, Canada - Japan's Tomomi Okazaki skates during the first of her two races in the women's 500-meter speed skating event at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 16, 2010. Okazaki came in 16th place with an overall time of 78.03 seconds.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki (R below) carries the national flag and leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki (R) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Flag bearer Tomomi Okazaki (R) of Japan and Seiko Hashimoto (L), the head of Japan's Vancouver Winter Olympic delegation, march in during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (front) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (C, below) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Flag bearer Tomomi Okazaki of Japan enters the stage during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (far R) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki of Japan leads her delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (front) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (R) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Vancouver Olympics open with ceremony

VANCOUVER, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki (front) leads the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony for the Vancouver Winter Olympics at BC Place in Vancouver on Feb. 12, 2010.

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Japan speed skaters prepare for Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Canada - Japanese speed skaters Tomomi Okazaki (L), 38, and Miho Takagi, 15, take part in a press conference in Vancouver on Feb. 11, 2010, ahead of the Winter Olympic Games. Okazaki, who will serve as the flag bearer of the Japanese delegation during the opening ceremony, said she and Takagi are training together as teammates without regard to their age difference.

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Japanese speed skaters practice for Vancouver Olympics

RICHMOND, Canada - Veteran Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, the Nagano Olympic bronze medalist, waves during a practice session at Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 6, 2010, to prepare for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

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Japanese speed skaters practice for Vancouver Olympics

RICHMOND, Canada - Veteran Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, the Nagano Olympic bronze medalist, practices at Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 6, 2010, to prepare for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

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Japanese speed skaters practice for Vancouver Olympics

RICHMOND, Canada - Veteran Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, the Nagano Olympic bronze medalist, takes part in the Japanese team's practice session at Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, Canada, on Feb. 5, 2010, to prepare for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

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Japan athletes arrive in Olympic village

VANCOUVER, Canada - Veteran speed skater Tomomi Okazaki acknowledges the crowd on arriving at Vancouver airport Feb. 4, 2010, before heading for the athletes' village in the city. Many Japanese athletes came to the accommodations the same day to prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games.

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Speed skater Okazaki hoping to rebound from Turin heartache

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan - Tomomi Okazaki (L), a speed skater and Japan's flag bearer for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, and Seiko Hashimoto, who will head the Japanese delegation to the Olympics, attend a send-off party in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Jan. 22, 2010.

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Speed skater Okazaki hoping to rebound from Turin heartache

FUJIYOSHIDA, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki speaks about her hopes for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games at a news conference in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Jan. 22, 2010. Okazaki, 38, has been picked as Japan's flag bearer and will be making her fifth Winter Olympic appearance.

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Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

TOKYO, Japan - Seiko Hashimoto(L), head of the Japanese delegation for the Vancouver Winger Olympic Games, speed skater Tomomi Okazaki (C), Japan flag bearer at the Olympics, and ski jumper and Japan captain Takanobu Okabe pose during a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010, after a ceremony to officially launch the delegation.

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Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

TOKYO, Japan - Takanobu Okabe (C), a ski jumper and Japan captain for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, speaks at a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010, with Seiko Hashimoto (L), head of the Japanese delegation for the Olympics, and speed skater and Japan's flag bearer Tomomi Okazaki listening to him. Earlier in the day, a ceremony to officially launch the delegation took place.

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Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

TOKYO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki (L), Japan's flag bearer at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama during a ceremony to officially launch the Japanese delegation to the Olympics at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010.

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Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

TOKYO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, Japan's flag bearer at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, holds up the delegation flag during a ceremony to officially launch the delegation for the Olympics at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010, with ski jumper and Japan captain Takanobu Okabe standing by her side.

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Japanese Winter Olympic delegation launched

TOKYO, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, Japan's flag bearer at the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, holds up the delegation flag during a ceremony to officially launch the delegation for the Olympics at a hotel in Tokyo on Jan. 18, 2010.

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Okazaki secures record 5th Olympic berth

NAGANO, Japan - Veteran speed skater Tomomi Okazaki celebrates after finishing second in the women's 500 meters in a qualifier for next year's Vancouver Olympics at the M-Wave ice arena in Nagano on Dec. 28, 2009. Okazaki became the first Japanese female athlete to book a spot in the Olympics for a record fifth time.

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Netherlands' Timmer wins women's 1,000m speed skating race

TURIN, Italy - The Netherlands' Marianne Timmer (R), gold medalist of the women's 1,000-meter speed skating race of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, is congratulated by Japanese skater Tomomi Okazaki at the Oval Lingotto in Turin, Italy, on Feb. 19.

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Okazaki narrowly misses medal in women's 500m speed skating

TURIN, Italy - Tomomi Okazaki of Japan smiles to supporters after competing in the women's 500-meter speed skating race of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games at the Oval Lingotto skating rink in Turin, Italy, on Feb. 14. Okazaki came in fourth in the race.

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Japanese speed skaters arrive in Milan

MILAN, Italy - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki, one of Japan's medal hopefuls at the Turin Olympic Games, waves at journalists as she arrives at Milan airport en route to Turin on Feb. 1.

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Okazaki named captain of Japan delegation for Turin Games

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese Olympic Committee on Jan. 10 named veteran speed skater Tomomi Okazaki (L, file photo) as captain of the country's delegation for the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Turin. The JOC also selected fellow sprint speed skater Joji Kato (R, file photo) as the flag bearer. They will lead Japanese athletes and officials in the Feb. 10 opening ceremony.

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Okazaki 2nd in World Cup Speed Skating women's 500m

TURIN, Italy - Japanese speed skater Tomomi Okazaki poses during the awards ceremony after placing second in the women's 500 meters race at the World Cup Speed Skating event at the Olympic Oval Lingotto in Turin Dec. 10.

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Okazaki wins World Cup 500 meters

CALGARY, Canada - Tomomi Okazaki waves at the Olympic Oval in Calgary on Jan. 15 after winning the women's 500-meter World Cup speed skating race.

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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.

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Japan's Winter Asian Games delegation launched in ceremony

AOMORI, Japan - Speed skater Tomomi Okazaki holds his Japanese delegation flag for the Winter Asian Games at a ceremony at a hotel in Aomori City on Jan. 29. The event launched the delegation to the Feb. 1-8 event in Aomori Prefecture.

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Speed skater Okazaki returns from Olympics

NARITA, Japan - Tomomi Okazaki, who placed sixth in the women's 500 meters speed skating event in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, returned to Narita airport Feb. 26.

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Okazaki to rewrite own record, says age does not matter

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Japan's speed skater Tomomi Okazaki smiles at a press conference at the Main Media Center in Salt Lake City on Feb. 15 after she came in sixth in the women's 500 meters speed skating on Feb. 14.

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(1)Okazaki comes in 6th in women's 500 meters speed skating

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Nagano bronze medalist Tomomi Okazaki of Japan competes in the women's 500 meters event of the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games at the Utah Olympic Oval on Feb. 14. Okzaki clocked a time of 37.87, the best among the Japanese skaters racing in the second leg of the final.

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(2)Okazaki comes in 6th in women's 500 meters speed skating

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Tomomi Okazaki of Japan waves to spectators at the Utah Olympic Oval on Feb. 14 after finishing the second leg of the women's 500 meters speed skating in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. Okazaki placed sixth in the event.

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Okazaki 7th after 1st run of 500 meter speed skating

SALT LAKE CITY, United States - Nagano Olympic bronze medalist Tomomi Okazaki waves at spectators Feb. 13 at the Utah Olympic Oval after finishing her first run in the women's 500 meter speed skating event of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Okazaki came in seventh overall heading into a second round of races Feb. 14.