Japan's Shihomi Shinya surprised the field with her first-ever victory on the speedskating World Cup circuit Saturday, outsprinting world record-holder Catriona LeMay-Doan of Canada in the women's 500 meters.
Japan's Shihomi Shinya motors to victory Saturday in a women's World Cup 500-meter speedskating event in Nagano.
Two-time Olympic medalist Hiroyasu Shimizu, meanwhile, finished runnerup to Canadian Jeremy Wotherspoon in the men's 500 while Japanese compatriot Joji Kato took a surprise third in his World Cup debut at the season-opening series for sprint races.
Shinya edged LeMay-Doan by just 0.01 as she crossed the finish line at the M-Wave ice arena in 38.60 seconds for her first podium finish in a World Cup meet, adding to the first major domestic title she won at last week's Asama invitational 1,000 meters.