Joji Kato (加藤条治, Katō Jōji^?) (born February 6, 1985 in Yamagata) is a Japanese speedskater specialised in the sprinting distance 500 metres. At the age of 17 he became the first junior speedskater to skate the 500 metres below 35 seconds.

Until March 9, 2007 he was the world record holder with the 34.30 he skated in Salt Lake City on November 19, 2005. He lost the world record to Kang-Seok Lee, who skated 34.25 in Salt Lake City.

At the age of 20, he became the 500 metres World Champion at the 2005 World Single Distance Championships, leaving behind no less skaters then Hiroyasu Shimizu and Jeremy Wotherspoon. After this achievement he was considered to be one of the favourites of achieving a medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Prior to the 500 metre race, he named three skaters as his toughest competition: Jeremy Wotherspoon of Canada, Joey Cheek of the United States, and Dmitry Dorofeyev of Russia. Cheek and Dorofeyev won gold and silver, respectively, while Kato finished in sixth place. He was also beaten by his own countryman, Yuya Oikawa, who was fourth.

Jan Smeekens (born February 11, 1987 in Raalte, Overijssel) is a Dutch speed skater. He is specialised in riding the 500m.

Smeekens won his first international medal during the 2004 World Junior Single Distance Championships in Moscow where he won the gold medal at the 500m. At the 2006 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships on 28 October 2005 he made his début among the senior skaters in his country, resulting in claiming a World Cup spot for races in Collalbo and Baselga di Pinè. In the A-group of these World Cup meetings he finished in 6th and 7th position.

On 7 January 2006, later during the 2005-06 season he also made his début at the 2006 KNSB Dutch Sprint Championships. At these championships he managed to win the second race over 500m. In February 2006 Smeekens signed a professional contract with the TVM Speed skating team.

His first success in his new team was winning a silver medal on the 500m at the 2007 KNSB Dutch Single Distance Championships. He won the first race beating all the favourites, while finishing second behind Jan Bos in the final race. Bos claimed and defended his title.