Former speedskater Seiko Hashimoto, a bronze medalist at the 1992 Albertville Winter Olympics, was selected Sunday as president of the scandal- plagued Japan Skating Federation.
Hashimoto, 41, a member of the House of Councillors, begins the two-year term from July 1 and is the first female Olympic medalist to head an Olympic event organization in Japan.
"The first order of business will be to restore the confidence in the JSF and work toward a positive result at the Vancouver Olympics (in four years)," Hashimoto said.