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Vanessa Herzog (AUT) Nao Kodaira (JPN) Daria Kachanova (RUS)WCSS JPN 2018©International Skating Union (ISU) 1071334992

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) Nao Kodaira (JPN) and Daria Kachanova (RUS) at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating (JPN) 2018©International Skating Union (ISU)

Nao Kodaira (JPN) started the 2018/19 Speed Skating season as the lady to beat in the 500m, but Vanessa Herzog (AUT) was up for the challenge. The Japanese sprint queen won the first four 500m races of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating season on home soil in Obihiro and Tomakomai, with her Austrian challenger coming second in all four races. Kodaira and Herzog were gearing up for a season long fascinating battle in the shortest distance.

"It's my start," Herzog said in November. "She (Kodaira) is two tenths of a second faster in the opener, but my lap is almost the same."

Herzog wins in absence of Kodaria

At the third ISU World Cup Speed Skating event of the season in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Poland, Herzog finally took gold in absence of Kodaira. "I'm always happy to skate against her, but if she's not here I'm happy to win too", she said with a smile. Herzog already anticipated on winning the overall 500m ISU World Cup Speed Skating after her two gold medals in Poland saying: "If she (Kodaira) is back, she will not be able to catch up anymore because I definitely will skate in all World Cups."

Nao Kodaira (JPN) WCSS NOR 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1126948975

Nao Kodaira (JPN) at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating (NOR) 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Herzog lived up to her promise skating all the following ISU World Cup Speed Skatintg races in Heerenveen, Hamar and the final in Salt Lake City, but she did not manage to beat Kodaira in any of those events.

Closing in

In the final ISU World Cup Speed Skating leg of the first half of the season in Heerenveen, the Austrian came closer than ever to her Japanese nemesis. "This race was almost perfect", Herzog said. "I improved my opener and my full lap is even a tenth faster than hers (Kodaira). She opened in 10.3 and I did 10.45."

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) ESSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1081592562

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) at the ISU European Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

In January Herzog got another confidence boost, winning her first major international title when she took the Sprint ISU European Speed Skating title in Collalbo, Italy. She laid the foundation for the title with two strong 500m races. "That's a good sign for Inzell", she said, referring to the apogee of the 2018/19 Speed Skating season: the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships at the Max Aicher Arena.

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) ESSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1081752684

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) at the European Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

One week before the Championships in Inzell Herzog again closed in on Kodaria at the fifth ISU World Cup leg in Hamar, bringing the gap down to 0.12 seconds. Kodaria skipped the second race in Hamar. "I think Nao wants to do more training in Inzell," Herzog said. "I don’t really need that. I already train in Inzell all year. I know the track very well."

Apogee in Inzell
In Inzell Herzog's hard work finally paid off. Starting in the tenth pairing versus Brittany Bowe (USA) and before Kodaira, who skated in the twelfth and final pairing, Herzog skated a personal best and a track record in 37.12. The first hundred meters were crucial. Herzog said: "Brittany did a false start and I was really nervous. I like to stand a bit passive on the ice, so that I don't do a false start. Eventually I got away well, 10.43 is my fastest ever opening."

Nao Kodaira (JPN) WSDSSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1128470004

Nao Kodaira (JPN) at the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Kodaira opened in 10.37, a little faster than Herzog, but not fast enough to compensate for the slower full lap. She crossed the line in 37.20 and had to settle for silver. "It's a pity, but Vanessa skated very well and I respect her", she said. "My start was good, but after about 50 meters it was a little unstable, that was a bad moment."

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) WSDSS 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1128285003

 Vanessa Herzog (AUT) at the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Herzog took full advantage: "A lot of people said that I could win. Last week [at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Hamar] I was very close already. This week she (Kodaira) did not skate 10.2 in the opener and that was my luck."

Kodaria's first loss in a 500m race in more than two seasons came at an unlucky moment, but the Japanese ace had a chance to make amends at the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships in Heerenveen a fortnight later and she did. With 37.27 and 37.41 she won both 500m races easily to leave compatriot Miho Takagi behind in the overall classification.

Herzog's best season last a little too long

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) WSDSSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1128470042

Vanessa Herzog (AUT) at the ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

For Herzog the season seemed to last just a couple of weeks too long. She had to settle for fourth place at the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships and she wasn't able to challenge Kodaira at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating final in Salt Lake City either.

Nao Kodaira (JPN) WSSSC 2019©International Skating Union (ISU) 1131623972

Nao Kodaira (JPN) at the ISU World Sprint Speed Skating Championships 2019©International Skating Union (ISU)

Kodaira won the two 500m races, missing out on Sang-Hwa Lee's (KOR) 2013 world record by only 0.11 seconds. She had enjoyed the battles with Herzog over the season, but regretted the lack of opposition in the ladies' 500m after Karolína Erbanová (CZE) quit last year: "This season it has only been Vanessa (Herzog) and me. We need more fast ladies to raise the level."

Herzog secured the 500m ISU World Cup Speed Skating with a bronze medal in the final race of the season in Salt Lake City. Although Kodaira had still been dominant in the 500m, Herzog had won the most important race of the season. Herzog may not have closed the gap altogether, she has come a long way and concluded: "This has been my best season ever. I won the European Championships, the World title in the 500m and the World Cup."