Lee Sang-hwa, a former speed skating national and KBS commentator, left a moving message to his longtime rival and friend, Japanese speed skater Nao Kodaira.
On the afternoon of the 17th, Lee Sang-hwa posted a picture of herself and Godaira taken during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics on Instagram on the afternoon of the 17th. At the same time he posted the picture, he left an encouraging message to Godaira.
Lee Sang-hwa shouted to Godaira, “Let’s not forget that our names are side by side in the high place we dreamed of.” “From the time we first met as teenagers until now, we’ve been doing well and doing well enough, and we’re eternal Olympic champions,” she said. Then she said, “You worked hard and you worked hard. You did a great job!” she added, tagging Nao Godaira herself.
In this Olympics, Lee Sang-hwa and Godaira showed an extraordinary friendship that made many people cry.
Godaira competed in the women’s 500m speed skating event at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics held at the National Speed Skating Stadium in Beijing, China on the 13th and placed 17th, showing a bit of a slump.
Lee Sang-hwa, the world record holder for the event, watched the Godaira match as a commentator for KBS. Lee Sang-hwa relayed the match in tears, shouting to Godaira, who was gradually falling behind, “Don’t give up. Go to the end.”
On this day, Godaira also eagerly looked for Lee Sang-hwa right after the match and said, “Sang-hwa, how have you been? I didn’t like today (the game),” he answered in Korean. The friendship between the two people that crossed borders left a big impression on many people.
