Joji Kato (born February 6, 1985 in Yamagata) is a Japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below 35 seconds.

At the moment he is the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on November 19, 2005.

At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Prior to the 500m race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada, Joey Cheek of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yuya Oikawa, who was fourth.

External links

• Photos of Joji Kato
• Kato names three threats for gold

Japanese speed skaters | 1985 births | Living people

Joji Kato | Joji Kato | 加藤条治 | Joji Kato | Joji Kato | Kato Joji