By Hiro Yoshida
Marina Zoueva needs no introduction. Choreographer and coach to Olympic champions and medallists, this is the third season which will see her guide one of Japan’s most iconic singles skaters on a new path in ice dance.
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Interviews
James & Radford: Unfinished Business
By Hiro Yoshida
Less than a year after officially announcing they had teamed up, Vanessa James and Eric Radford landed on the World podium in Montpellier, France last month. The Canadians reflect on a season of highs and lows that ultimately brought them to that bronze medal.
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Nazarova and Nikitin: Ukrainian Display of Courage and Defiance on World Stage
By Hiro Yoshida with Seán Gillis
This interview will be translated into Japanese and published in the upcoming issue of Figure Skate Life magazine. With the permission of the magazine publisher, we have been authorised to release an English version online prior to the magazine’s release. Therefore, we prohibit any unauthorised copying or translation of this article. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
On 24 February, life changed completely for Oleksandra Nazarova and Makysm Nikitin when Russia invaded their home country. After escaping the heavily bombarded city of Kharkiv, the Ukrainian ice dancers delivered a powerful message through their performance at the World Championships in Montpellier, France.
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Papadakis and Cizeron: Embracing Uncertainty
By Hiro Yoshida
After just missing out on gold four years ago in PyeongChang, Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron are back on Olympic ice this week in Beijing seeking the one title they need to complete their collection.
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Smart and Diaz: Rolling Into Beijing
By Hiro Yoshida
Olivia Smart and Adrian Diaz have had the season of their dreams so far and this weekend they will finally get to perform on the biggest stage in the world four years on from narrowly missing out.
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Michal Březina: Family Affair
By Hiro Yoshida
With his final Olympics under way, Michal Březina reflects on his career, the fulfilment of a family dream and the legacy he has left for Czech skating.
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Komatsubara and Koleto: Forging Their Own Path
By Hiro Yoshida
(All Rights Reserved. Translation/Copying of Text/Images Without Permission Strictly Prohibited)
The road to the Beijing for Misato Komatsubara and Tim Koleto has had its fair share of twizzles and turns even since the Japanese ice dancers bagged an Olympic place for their nation at the World Championships in March 2021.
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Sarah Meier: The Perfect Ending
By Hiro Yoshida
Sometimes fairy tales do happen. Ten years ago, today, the stage for one of skating’s greatest Happily Ever Afters was the bitterly cold PostFinance Arena at the European Figure Skating Championships in Bern, Switzerland and Sarah Meier was our Cinderella.
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Romain Haguenauer: Appreciating The Moment
By Hiro Yoshida
Six years on from his move to Montreal, Romain Haguenauer has become one of the key players behind an ice dance revolution that has changed the sport. With over two decades as an elite coach behind him, Haguenauer continues to see new possibilities ahead even during these uncertain times.
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Yuma Kagiyama: Family Ties
By Hiro Yoshida
Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama has figure skating in his DNA and, at this week’s World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, the sixteen year old is aiming for the highest spot on the podium. (more…)
