Yuzuru Hanyu and Rika Kihira top podium in season debuts
Yuzuru Hanyu and Rika Kihira continued Japan's winning ways over the weekend by claiming the Autumn Classic International and the Nepela Trophy in varying fashions. Hanyu began his season with an inconsistent performance in Oakville, Ontario. Though the two-time Olympic champion topped the podium with ...
Yuzuru Hanyu in first place after short program at Autumn Classic International
Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu seized the lead with a fluid skate in the short program on Friday at the Autumn Classic International. Taking part in his first competition since becoming the first men's back-to-back Olympic champion in 66 years in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in ...
World silver medalist Wakaba Higuchi sits in fourth place after the women's short program on Thursday at the Autumn Classic International, an ISU Challenger Series event held ahead of the Grand Prix season. In her first international competition in the 2018-2019 season, the 17-year-old earned ...
Shoma Uno, Satoko Miyahara score big victories in season debuts
World and Olympic silver medalist Shoma Uno and world bronze medalist Satoko Miyahara began their seasons with victories in decisive fashion at the Lombardia Trophy and U.S. International Classic, respectively, on Saturday. Uno won in Bergamo, Italy, with a total score of 276.20 points, while ...
Hanyu set for Helsinki, Cup of Russia
Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu will begin his Grand Prix season in Helsinki at the GP that is replacing the Cup of China, according to the ISU's recent announcement of GP assignments. Helsinki will surely bring back fond memories for both Hanyu and his fans, ...
Yuzuru Hanyu leads list for season's top efforts by Japan skaters
With the epic Olympic season now concluded, Ice Time has come up with a top 10 list of the best performances by Japanese skaters. The list places a priority on results in major competitions like the Pyeongchang Olympics and world championships, while taking into account ...
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 ...
Sending Kaori Sakamoto to Olympics the right call
This time the Japan Skating Federation got it right. Twelve years after controversially sending Miki Ando to the 2006 Turin Olympics when Yukari Nakano had enjoyed a better season and finished ahead of Ando at the Japan nationals, the JSF made the correct decision Sunday ...
Drama on ice: Satoko Miyahara captures fourth consecutive national title
Satoko Miyahara showed her mettle when the chips were down on Saturday night, coming from second place after the short program to capture her fourth straight national title at the All-Japan Championships at Musashino Forest Sports Centre. Miyahara racked up a total score of ...
Kaori Sakamoto rises to occasion, holds slim lead over Satoko Miyahara at nationals
The final battle for the two women's spots on Japan's 2018 Olympic skating team began in earnest at Musashino Forest Sports Centre on Thursday night and the story could have a surprise ending. Kaori Sakamoto, in her first senior season, grabbed the lead after the ...
Nathan Chen credits rival Yuzuru Hanyu for inspiration
With less than two months to go until the Pyeongchang Olympics, American Nathan Chen is finding himself the focus of a lot of attention. And with good reason. Chen, an 18-year-old from Salt Lake City, is the defending U.S. champion and has won every competition ...
Race for two Olympic spots still wide open
Satoko Miyahara and Wakaba Higuchi came into the Grand Prix Final with excellent chances to solidify their positions as the favorites for Japan's two spots for women for the Pyeongchang Olympics. They didn't do it. After outstanding short programs by both, things came undone in their ...
