NEW AD: I WANT TO BE LIKE HIROYASU

Hiroyasu Shimizu is a national hero now.

As soon as he won a gold medal for Japan in 500-meter speedskating, Shimizu became the lead story on every TV news program. His photo went directly to the cover of virtually every Japanese publication.

On this reporter’s bus ride from another site, the driver made an announcement to the passengers:

“This bus goes to Yanagimachi Village.”

Everybody knew that.

“Shimizu is gold medal.”

Everybody now knew that.

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING

More on the man of the hour:

Talking about “image training,” Shimizu said he didn’t do much until three days before the last race.

That’s when, he said, “I imagined standing in the winner’s circle with the ‘Kimigayo’ [national anthem] playing, and the flag of Japan being raised. Tears were streaming down my face.

“I kept this visual in my mind. Then it actually happened. Image and reality became one.”

COMING TO A GIANT SCREEN NEAR YOU

A 40-minute film on the Winter Olympics, for the spectacular IMAX format, is being shot here.

“Olympic Glory” is being directed by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Keith Merrill, written by Tom Keneally (“Schindler’s List”) and produced by Frank Marshall.

“Other films can explain, educate or entertain, but our goal is to do what IMAX does best, and that is give people an experience,” line producer Scott Swofford said.

WHAT’S GERMAN FOR “NANU NANU”?

Funnier than Mork and Mindy, yes, it’s Ingo and Mandy.

After winning a bronze medal in pairs skating, Ingo Steuer and Mandy Wotzel were pleased with themselves. Here’s what the happy Germans had to say:

Ingo: “I have no words for this. It’s my first Olympic medal and my last Olympic medal and I don’t know, we’re happy.”

Mandy: “We are pairs skaters with the same opinion.”

Ingo and Mandy, this fall on CBS.