Hiroyasu Shimizu
View photos of Hiroyasu Shimizu at DESGphoto
| Given name | Hiroyasu |
| Surname | Shimizu |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | 27 February 1974 in Obihiro, Hokkaido (JPN) |
| Local spelling | 清水宏保 |
Hiroyasu Shimizu, born in Obihiro (Hokkaido) and living in Tokyo, set a fabulous 500 m World Record during the great record breaking races in Calgary March 1996; 35,39. This was the last 500 m WR before the klapskates were introduced. Using klapskates he was the first to break the 35 seconds barrier when he did 34,82 in 1998, lowering his own World Record by more than half a second.
He was under great pressure when competing on his home ground during the Olympic Games in Nagano 1998, and he succeeded in his task to become Olympic 500 m Champion, the first Japanese Olympic speed skating champion. Four years later he had some back problems in the start of the season. He came back to win an Olympic silver medal, losing the gold to Casey FitzRandolph by 3 one-hundredths of a second, the smallest margin ever in an Olympic 500 m.
He has never been World Sprint Champion, but he has 3 silver medals (1995, 1996 and 2001) and 3 bronze medals (1993, 1999 og 2000). He was the first 500 m World Champion during the first World Single Distance Championships 1996. He has been on the podium every year since; as the World Champion in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, and getting a bronze medal in 1997.
In 2001 he was awarded the Oscar Mathisen Trophy for his 500 m World Record race in Salt Lake City; 34,32 - his 4th 500 m World Record. He was flag bearer for the Japanese Olympic Team in 1998.
Last updated on 20 December 2005 by Bjarte Hetland.International Championship Results
World Cup Results
World Cup Standings
| Result | Distance | Season | |
| 28 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1992-1993 | |
| 21 | 1000 m Men | World Cup 1992-1993 | |
| 21 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1993-1994 | |
| 38 | 1000 m Men | World Cup 1993-1994 | |
| 1 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1994-1995 | |
| 13 | 1000 m Men | World Cup 1994-1995 | |
| 5 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1995-1996 | |
| 28 | 1000 m Men | World Cup 1995-1996 | |
| 19 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1996-1997 | |
| 1 | 3000 m / 5000 m Women | World Cup 1996-1997 | |
| 3 | 500 m Men | World Cup 1997-1998 | |
| 32 | 1000 m Men | World Cup 1997-1998 | |
| 16 | 500 m Men | Edon World Cup 1998-1999 | |
| 29 | 1000 m Men | Edon World Cup 1998-1999 | |
| 2 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 1999-2000 | |
| 5 | 1000 m Men | Essent World Cup 1999-2000 | |
| 1 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 2000-2001 | |
| 15 | 1000 m Men | Essent World Cup 2000-2001 | |
| 16 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 2001-2002 | |
| 6 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 2002-2003 | |
| 15 | 1000 m Men | Essent World Cup 2002-2003 | |
| 4 | 100 m Men | Essent World Cup 2003-2004 | |
| 3 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 2003-2004 | |
| 30 | 1000 m Men | Essent World Cup 2003-2004 | |
| 19 | 500 m Men | Essent World Cup 2005-2006 | |
| 62 | 1000 m Men | Essent World Cup 2005-2006 |
National Championship Results
Other Results
| Result | Distance | Date | Tournament | Venue | |
| 1 | 2 x 500 m Men | 2 February 2003 | Asian Winter Games 2003 | Hachinohe |
| 2 | 1000 m Men | 4 February 2003 | Asian Winter Games 2003 | Hachinohe |
World Records
| Distance | Time | Rink | Date |
| 500 m Men | 35,39 | Calgary | 2 March 1996 |
| 500 m Men | 35,36 | Calgary | 28 March 1998 |
| 500 m Men | 34,82 | Calgary | 28 March 1998 |
| 500 m Men | 34,32 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 10 March 2001 |
| 2 x 500 m Men | 68.960 | Salt Lake City-Kearns | 10 March 2001 |