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Narumi Takahashi

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Narumi Takahashi
Takahashi at the 2012 World Championships
Born (1992-01-15) January 15, 1992 (age 32)
Chiba, Japan
Height1.46 m (4 ft 9 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan
Skating clubKinoshita Tokyo
Began skating1997
RetiredMarch 30, 2018
Medal record
Event Gold medal – first place Silver medal – second place Bronze medal – third place
World Championships 0 0 1
Japanese Championships 6 1 0
World Team Trophy 1 0 1
World Junior Championships 0 1 1
Junior Grand Prix Final 1 1 0
Medal list
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Nice Pairs
Japanese Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008–09 Nagano Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2009–10 Osaka Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2010–11 Nagano Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2011–12 Osaka Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2013–14 Saitama Pairs
Gold medal – first place 2014–15 Nagano Pairs
Silver medal – second place 2017–18 Tokyo Pairs
World Team Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2012 Tokyo Team
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Tokyo Team
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2010 The Hague Pairs
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Gangneung Pairs
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2010–11 Beijing Pairs
Silver medal – second place 2009–10 Tokyo Pairs
Narumi Takahashi
Japanese name
Kanji高橋 成美
Kanaたかはし なるみ
Transcriptions
RomanizationTakahashi Narumi

Narumi Takahashi (高橋 成美, Takahashi Narumi, born January 15, 1992) is a Japanese retired pair skater and six-time Japanese national champion (2009-2012, 2014, 2015). With former partner Mervin Tran, she was the 2012 World bronze medalist, the 2010 Junior World silver medalist, and the 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final champion. They were the first pair to win a World medal for Japan. She has also skated with Ryo Shibata, Ryuichi Kihara and Alexandr Zaboev.

Personal life

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Takahashi was born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. She has a sister that is two years older than her.[1][2]

Her father's job took the family to China when she was nine.[3] She lived in China for five years and attended international school while there. Takahashi returned to Japan during her junior high school years and attended Makuhari High School. She then moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada with her mother so that she could train with then pair skating partner, Mervin Tran, and attended high school while there.[4][5][6]

Upon returning to Japan as an adult, Takahashi went on to major in Faculty of Policy Management at Keio University and graduated in 2021.[5][6]

Takahashi is able to speak seven different languages, including Japanese, Mandarin, English, Spanish, Russian, French, and Korean. In addition to skating, Takahashi also played soccer for six years on a city team.[5]

In October 2021, Takahashi came out as queer during a talk event held by Pride House Tokyo. She shared that she had come to terms with her sexuality during her high school years when she was living in Montreal at the time and that she was "blessed" to be living in a supportive, accepting environment at the time. She also credited Canadian ice dancer, Kaitlyn Weaver, who had come out as queer the previous year, for empowering her to come out.[7][8]

Takahashi opened up about her struggles with disordered eating that had started at the age of nine while she was living in China, saying that her pair skating coaches would constantly monitor her weight to ensure that she remained "light enough" to remain a pair skater. She added that several coaches would continue this type of behavior throughout her competitive career to the point of Takahashi completely normalizing it. Due to Takahashi's exceedingly low body fat percentage, she only began menstruating after retiring from compeitive figure skating in 2018 at the age of twenty-six.[4]

Career

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Early career

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After being diagnosed with pediatric asthma at the age of three, the doctor encouraged Takahashi's mother to have Takahashi engage in more physical activity. At age five, Takahashi began learning to skate, following in the footsteps of her elder sister.[5][2] She won the Japanese bronze medal in novice B ladies' singles in 2002.[5] She was further inspired to continue skating after watching figure skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan on television.[4]

With her father's job requiring him to relocate to the United States or China, Takahashi expressed the most interest in moving to China due to being inspired by Shen Xue / Zhao Hongbo's skating at the time.[4] Moving to Beijing at the age of nine, she continued skating in singles until she was about 12–13 and then switched to pair skating.[3] Takahashi skated with Chinese partner Gao Yu for one season; they placed 6th at the 2004 Chinese Championships on the senior level.[5] She soon decided to leave China and skate for Japan after the Chinese Skating Association told her that they wanted her to obtain Chinese citizenship, which would have required her giving up her Japanese citizenship due to China's law of not recognizing dual citizenship.[4] Upon returning, Takahashi asked the Japan Skating Federation for help in finding a pair skating partner; she eventually found a partner in Japan but the partnership was unsuccessful due to insufficient height difference.[5]

Partnership with Tran

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Takahashi/Tran in 2011

Takahashi moved to Montreal, Quebec after two years of corresponding with Richard Gauthier, whom she met at a competition in China. Gauthier began looking for a partner for her in Canada. Bruno Marcotte recommended Mervin Tran, who until that point had been a single skater. Tran agreed to come to Montreal for a tryout and the pair began training together in July 2007.[5][9] During their career together, they trained in St. Leonard[10] and received funding from the Japanese skating association.[11]

Takahashi/Tran made their international debut on the 2007–2008 ISU Junior Grand Prix, where they placed 12th and 6th at their events. They won the Japan Junior Championships and earned a trip to 2008 Junior Worlds, where they placed 15th.

In the 2008–2009 season, Takahashi/Tran placed 4th at their first Junior Grand Prix event. They won the bronze medal at their second event, qualifying them for the 2008-2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, where they placed 7th. They won the senior title at the 2008–2009 Japanese Championships. At the 2009 Junior Worlds, they placed 7th.

During the 2009–2010 season, Takahashi/Tran competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. They won the bronze medal at their first event and gold at their second event, which qualified them for the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final. They also debuted on the senior Grand Prix series with an 8th-place finish at NHK Trophy. They won silver at the JGP Final and at the Junior World Championships. They became the second pair representing Japan to medal at an ISU Championships (Yuko Kavaguti / Alexander Markuntsov were the first pair when they won silver in 2001).[3]

During the 2010–2011 season, Takahashi/Tran won silver medals at their JGP events and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final. They won gold at the event, becoming the first pair representing Japan to win the title. They also won their first medals on the senior Grand Prix series, a bronze at 2010 NHK Trophy, and then silver at 2010 Cup of Russia. As a result, they were first alternates to the senior Grand Prix Final. They won the bronze medal at the 2011 Junior Worlds. They also made their senior World Championships debut, finishing 9th.

During the 2011–2012 season, Takahashi/Tran's first Grand Prix assignment was 2011 Skate Canada International, where they finished fourth. They won the silver medal at their second event, 2011 NHK Trophy. In November 2011, Tran said he was considering pursuing Japanese citizenship in order to allow the couple to compete at the Olympics but said it was a difficult decision because it would mean giving up his Canadian citizenship.[12] They became the first Japanese pair to qualify for the senior Grand Prix Final.

At the 2012 World Championships, Takahashi/Tran placed third in both programs and won the bronze medal.[13][14] They became the first pair to medal for Japan at a senior World Championships.[14] They placed third at the 2012 World Team Trophy. In April 2012, Tran said he would continue to consider an application for Japanese citizenship and the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee said he was "willing to make a special request (on behalf of Tran) to the government if necessary."[15][16] In May 2012, a government official said it would be difficult to naturalize Tran because he had never resided in Japan.[17]

In April 2012, Takahashi dislocated her left shoulder while practicing a lift.[18] After five or six recurrences, she decided to undergo surgery on October 30.[19] As a result, the pair withdrew from their 2012–2013 Grand Prix events, the 2012 Cup of China and 2012 NHK Trophy.[18] They said they would miss about four to six months.[19] On December 18, 2012, the Japanese Skating Federation announced that the pair had ended their partnership.[20][21]

Partnership with Kihara

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The JSF said they hoped to find a new partner, with preference to skaters holding Japanese citizenship, by February 2013.[22] On January 30, 2013, the JSF confirmed that Takahashi had teamed up with Ryuichi Kihara, until then a singles skater, and would be coached by Yuka Sato and Jason Dungjen.[23][24] They trained in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[25] They represented Japan together at the 2014 Olympics and placed 19th. The pair split in March 2015.

Partnership with Zaboev

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On July 6, 2015, it was announced that Takahashi had teamed up with Russian pair skater Alexandr Zaboev and that Takahashi would continue to skate for Japan with him.[26] The pair ultimately never competed together.

Partnership with Shibata

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On May 18, 2016, it was announced that Takahashi had teamed up with retired single skater Ryo Shibata and that they would train in Geneva, Illinois under Stefania Berton and Rockne Brubaker.[27]

As a team, Takahashi/Shibata won the bronze medal at the 2017 Asian Open Trophy and the silver medal at the 2017–18 Japan Championships.[1]

In March 2018, Takahashi announced her retirement from competitive figure skating due to the impact of several injuries she suffered throughout her career, including recurrent dislocation of her left shoulder joint and a right knee injury that required surgery.[28][29]

Post-competitive career

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Following her competitive career, Takahashi has helped coach Japanese pair teams, including Miyu Yunoki / Shoya Ichihashi and Haruna Murakami / Sumitada Moriguchi.[30][31] She has also done figure skating commentary for Japanese television.[32]

In spring 2019, Takahashi joined Showa University's women's hockey team, the Blue Winds, and played for a season.[6][33]

In June 2021, it was announced that Takahashi had been elected as an executive board member of the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), becoming the youngest electee of the committee in history at the age of twenty-nine.[34][35][4]

Takahashi also appeared in a supporting role in the 2022 Japanese film, Gekkako.[36]

Programs

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With Shibata

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Season Short program Free skating
2017–2018
[1]
2013–2014
[37]

With Kihara

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2014–2015
[38]
  • That's Entertainment
  • Love is Here to Stay
  • I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise
2013–2014
[25]

With Tran

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Takahashi / Tran won their first senior Grand Prix medal at 2010 NHK Trophy
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2012–2013
[39] 		Gigi (1958 film):
  • Main Title
  • You Never Told Me
  • Gigi's Big Moment
  • Gaston's Decision
2011–2012
[40]
2010–2011
[41]
2009–2010
[42]
  • Farrucas
    by Pepe Romero
  • Chano Lobato
  • Maria Madgalena
  • Paco Romero (Flamenco)
2008–2009
[43]
2007–2008
[44]

Competitive highlights

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GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

With Shibata

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International
Event 16–17 17–18
Asian Games 6th
Asian Trophy 3rd
National
Japan Championships 4th 2nd

With Kihara

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Takahashi/Kihara in 2013
International[45]
Event 13–14 14–15
Winter Olympics 18th
World Championships 17th 19th
Four Continents Champ. 10th
GP Rostelecom Cup 7th
GP NHK Trophy 7th
CS Nebelhorn Trophy 7th
Lombardia Trophy 7th
Nebelhorn Trophy 11th
National[46]
Japan Championships 1st 1st
Team events
Winter Olympics 5th T
T = Team result

With Tran

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Takahashi/Tran with their fellow medalists at the 2012 World Championships
International[47]
Event 07–08 08–09 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13
Worlds 9th 3rd
Four Continents 5th 7th 5th
Grand Prix Final 6th
GP Cup of China WD
GP NHK Trophy 8th 3rd 2nd WD
GP Rostel. Cup 2nd
GP Skate Canada 4th
International: Junior[47]
Junior Worlds 15th 7th 2nd 3rd
JGP Final 7th 2nd 1st
JGP Estonia 12th
JGP Germany 6th 2nd
JGP Mexico 4th
JGP Poland 1st
JGP U.K. 3rd 2nd
JGP USA 3rd
National[47]
Japan Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st
Japan Junior 1st
Team events
World Team
Trophy		 3rd T
6th P		 1st T
3rd P
WD: Withdrew
T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

With Yamada

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National
Event 2006–07
Japan Junior Championships 1st

With Gao

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National
Event 2003–04
Chinese Championships 6th

Ladies' singles

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National
Event 2002–03
Japan Novice Championships 3rd B
Levels: B = Novice B

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Narumi TAKAHASHI/Ryo SHIBATA: 2017/18". International Skating Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b 金島, 淑華 (27 October 2022). "高橋成美さんが経験したフィギュア ずるいと言われ、かかるお金は…". Asahi. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Flade, Tatjana (June 6, 2010). "High ambitions for Takahashi and Tran". Golden Skate. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Narumi Takahashi: "I had been managed by a coach about my weight since I was 9, so I ended up thinking it was a waste to eat since I had worked so hard to lose weight in training. I had my first period at 26, after I retired."". FS Gossips. FS Gossips. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittan, Barry (August 30, 2008). "Young Team Gives Japan Hope for Future". Skate Today. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
  6. ^ a b c "高橋成美の高校や大学は？7か国語を話すオリンピアンで経歴がヤバイ！". Men's Archives. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. ^ "「好き」と「恋愛」が結ばれなくて フィギュア元ペア・高橋成美さん". Asahi. November 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ^ "性的少数者とカミングアウト フィギュアの高橋成美さん「怖さある」". 4 Years. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  9. ^ Brodie, Rob (April 14, 2011). "Takahashi and Tran: Young Pair Flying High". International Figure Skating. Retrieved June 15, 2011.
  10. ^ a b Rutherford, Lynn (September 20, 2011). "Japanese, Canadian pairs face off at Mid-Atlantics". Icenetwork. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  11. ^ "Mervin Tran, un "Japonais" à St-Léonard" ["Japanese" Mervin Tran in St-Leonard]. La Presse (in French). December 9, 2011. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016.
  12. ^ Sato, Shigemi (November 14, 2011). "Skater Mervin Tran mulls turning Japanese". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013.
  13. ^ Kondakova, Anna (March 28, 2012). "Savchenko and Szolkowy land throw triple Axel; lead pairs in Nice". Golden Skate.
  14. ^ a b Kondakova, Anna (March 30, 2012). "Savchenko and Szolkowy capture fourth World title". Golden Skate.
  15. ^ "JOC willing to work with Tran on citizenship issue". Ice Network. April 27, 2012.
  16. ^ Flade, Tatjana (May 6, 2012). "Takahashi and Tran prepare for next season with new confidence". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ "Figure skating: Pairs skater Tran's naturalization process hits snag". Mainichi Shimbun. May 16, 2012. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012.
  18. ^ a b フィギュア:ペアの高橋成美が左肩脱臼、ＧＰシリーズ欠場 [Figure skating: Pair skater Narumi Takahashi dislocated her shoulder and will miss GP series]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). October 25, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Rutherford, Lynn (October 26, 2012). "Takahashi, Tran out of Grand Prix, worlds doubtful". Icenetwork.
  20. ^ 高橋、トラン組ペア解消 世界フィギュア銅メダル [World bronze figure skating pair Takahashi and Tran end partnership] (in Japanese). Sports Navi. December 18, 2012. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Figure skating: Takahashi-Tran dissolve pair combo". Kyodo News. Mainichi Shimbun. December 19, 2012. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013.
  22. ^ 高橋、新パートナーは日本人優先／フィギュア [Takahashi's new skating partner preferably Japanese]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on July 5, 2013.
  23. ^ "Skater Takahashi pairs up with Kihara". Jiji-Daily Yomiuri. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013.
  24. ^ フィギュア:高橋・木原の新ペア、佐藤有香コーチに師事 [Takahashi / Kihara pair skating team learns from Yuka Sato]. Mainichi (in Japanese). January 30, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03.
  25. ^ a b "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Ryuichi KIHARA: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 21, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ [headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150706-00000077-dal-spo "高橋成美が元エストニア代表のザボエフと新ペア結成"]. Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 6 July 2015. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  27. ^ "International Figure Skating". International Figure Skating Facebook. 18 May 2016. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  28. ^ "フィギュアの高橋成美が引退". Kyodo. Archived from the original on 2018-07-08. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  29. ^ "高橋 成美". Hitoikitoki. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Miyu YUNOKI / Shoya ICHIHASHI: 2022/23". International Skating Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Haruna MURAKAMI / Sumitada MORIGUCHI: 2022/23". International Skating Union. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  32. ^ "NHK杯フィギュア 高橋成美さんに聞く大会の見どころ②ペアとアイスダンス". NHK Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  33. ^ "（ＦＯＣＵＳ）フィギュアから「格闘技」へ アイスホッケー・高橋成美". Asahi. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Executives". JOC. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  35. ^ "ＪＯＣ史上初「20代理事」元フィギュア高橋成美さん賛成多数で承認". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  36. ^ "月下香". Eiga. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  37. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI/Ryo SHIBATA: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 2017-11-24. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  38. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Ryuichi KIHARA: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015.
  39. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013.
  40. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2011/2012". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.
  41. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2010/2011". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011.
  42. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 17, 2010.
  43. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009.
  44. ^ "Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008.
  45. ^ "Competition Results: Narumi TAKAHASHI / Ryuichi KIHARA". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017.
  46. ^ "髙橋 成美/TAKAHASHI Narumi 木原 龍一/KIHARA Ryuichi" (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on March 19, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  47. ^ a b c "Competition Results: Narumi TAKAHASHI / Mervin TRAN". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013.
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