Rika Kihira will require full arsenal to win Grand Prix Final
Rika Kihira staked her claim as Japan's biggest female skating star with a victory at the Internationaux de France in Grenoble on Saturday night. The triumph clinched a spot in next month's Grand Prix Final for the 16-year-old. Two weeks after winning the NHK Trophy ...
Yuzuru Hanyu amazes again in Helsinki win
Just when you didn't think he could go one better, he did. Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu stunned the skating world again with his artistry and technical prowess on the way to a commanding victory at the Helsinki Grand Prix last weekend. Hanyu set three world ...
Kaori Sakamoto takes bronze, while Yuzuru Hanyu shines in Grand Prix return
Kaori Sakamoto bounced back from a disappointing short program to secure a podium finish in the women's event at the Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Helsinki on Saturday, while Pyeongchang Olympic champion Alina Zagitova led a 1-2 finish for Russia. Sakamoto, who fell twice ...
Akita group gives puppy to Olympic champion skater Alina Zagitova
Russian Olympic figure skating champion Alina Zagitova received an Akita puppy Saturday from a group preserving the Japanese dog breed at a presentation ceremony in Moscow attended by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Zagitova plans to name the red-haired female Akita dog Masaru, meaning victory in ...
Akita puppy offered to Russian Olympic champion figure skater Alina Zagitova shown to the public
The Akita pup that will be gifted to Russian Olympic champion figure skater Alina Zagitova was shown to the public Thursday at a dog show in the breed's namesake prefecture. The female puppy was chosen by the 15-year-old gold medalist from a group of candidate ...
Akita banks on namesake dog to fetch overseas tourists
After winning gold in women's ice skating at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February, 15-year old Alina Zagitova has her eyes set on another prize — a Japanese puppy named after Akita, the prefecture from which it originates. While training in Japan for the Olympics, ...
Wakaba Higuchi seizes on defining moment at worlds
"Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss." Wakaba Higuchi could likely relate to the line by actor Hal Holbrook in Oliver Stone's 1987 classic ...
Can Japan's women skaters catch up with Russians?
In the wake of Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva winning the gold and silver medals in such dominating fashion at the Pyeongchang Games, many are wondering how the Japanese women can close the gap on the powerful Russians going forward. Zagitova, with a score of ...
The Pyeongchang Olympics have had a bit of everything since Yuna Kim ignited the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony on Feb. 9. Political theater, incredible athletic achievements, the wrath of Mother Nature, and more Russians caught doping. The first week was significantly overshadowed by ...
Alina Zagitova claims figure skating gold with sublime performance
Alina Zagitova won the gold medal with an elegant and poised performance in the free skate at Gangneung Ice Arena on Friday afternoon. The 15-year-old Olympic Athlete from Russia became the second-youngest women's Olympic champion ever with the victory. Zagitova is one month older than ...
Satoko Miyahara, Kaori Sakamoto hit ice for practice ahead of women's free skate
Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto came through practice unscathed on Thursday morning at Gangneung Ice Arena ahead of Friday's free skate. Sakamoto looked especially sharp during the 40-minute session, tearing off jump after jump, before a crowd of a couple thousand who attended. Her run-through ...
Alina Zagitova leads Evgenia Medvedeva after record-breaking short program
Alina Zagitova of the Olympic Athletes from Russia smashed the world record to take the lead after the women's short program at Gangneung Ice Arena on Wednesday. Moments after training partner and two-time world champion Evgenia Medvedeva had broken her own world mark, Zagitova took ...
