Akiko Suzuki just proved that she is Japan’s pride in the Women’s Figure Skating. She’s back in action now that she entered her first Olympics in Vancouver 2010. At the age of 16, Akiko Suzuki’s promising career ended with the eating disorder anorexia. Suzuki had been one of the rising stars of Japanese women’s figure skating before that. We are glad that Akiko Suzuki is relishing every moment of her Olympic dream after years of struggling with anorexia. Akiko Suzuki made it to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics alongside former world champion teammates Mao Asada, and Miki Ando.
Japan's Miki Ando is set for one final winter Olympics determined to put past disappointments behind her and emulate her idol Shizuka Arakawa.
Ando, the 2007 world champion, failed miserably in Turin four years ago as she struggled to stay on her feet, placing 15th as Arakawa surged to Japan's first Olympic figure-skating gold. The 2004 world junior champion can, however, take heart from the fact that the legendary Arakawa also had an up-and-down career before finally claiming the most coveted crown in figure skating.
It was the performance of Arakawa, six years her senior, at the 1998 Nagano Games that inspired Ando to take up the sport despite the later Olympic champion finishing just 13th. And again it was Arakawa who was instrumental in the young skater's decision not to retire after Turin.
Ando is now a more mature 22 and is coached in New Jersey by Nikolai Morozov, the man who guided Arakawa to the surprise gold. Since Turin, Ando has finished twice on the world podium, winning gold the following year and bronze at last year's world championships. Once known primarily for her jumps, including the first and only quad landed by a woman in competition at the 2002 Junior Grand Prix final, Ando has now become a more complete and fluid skater.
Japan's Miki Ando is set for one final winter Olympics determined to put past disappointments behind her and emulate her idol Shizuka Arakawa.
Ando, the 2007 world champion, failed miserably in Turin four years ago as she struggled to stay on her feet, placing 15th as Arakawa surged to Japan's first Olympic figure-skating gold. The 2004 world junior champion can, however, take heart from the fact that the legendary Arakawa also had an up-and-down career before finally claiming the most coveted crown in figure skating.
It was the performance of Arakawa, six years her senior, at the 1998 Nagano Games that inspired Ando to take up the sport despite the later Olympic champion finishing just 13th. And again it was Arakawa who was instrumental in the young skater's decision not to retire after Turin.
Ando is now a more mature 22 and is coached in New Jersey by Nikolai Morozov, the man who guided Arakawa to the surprise gold. Since Turin, Ando has finished twice on the world podium, winning gold the following year and bronze at last year's world championships. Once known primarily for her jumps, including the first and only quad landed by a woman in competition at the 2002 Junior Grand Prix final, Ando has now become a more complete and fluid skater.
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