Yukari Nakano

Yukari Nakano (中野 友加里, Nakano Yukari, born August 25, 1985) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is the 2006 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2003 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2005–06 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, the 2007 Asian Winter Games champion, and a three-time (2006, 2007, 2009) Japanese national bronze medalist. Nakano is one of twelve female skaters to perform a triple Axel in international competition.[1]

Yukari Nakano
Nakano at the 2008 Skate America.
Personal information
Country representedJapan
Born (1985-08-25) August 25, 1985
Kōnan, Aichi
Home townYokohama
Height1.56 m (5 ft 1 in)
Former coachNobuo Sato
Machiko Yamada
Mihoko Higuchi
Naoko Ozuka
Former choreographerMarina Zoueva
Kumiko Sato
Kenji Miyamoto
David Wilson 
Lea Ann Miller
Mihoko Higuchi
Skating clubShinyokohama Skate Center
Began skating1991
RetiredMarch 2010
ISU personal best scores
Combined total177.40
2008 Worlds
Short program62.08
2008–09 GPF
Free skate116.30
2008 Worlds

Personal life

Yukari Nakano was born on August 25, 1985 in Kōnan, Aichi Prefecture.[2][3] She has two elder siblings, a brother and sister.[4]

In 2004, Nakano enrolled at Waseda University in Tokyo. She earned her master's degree from Waseda,[4] having studied at the Graduate School of Human Sciences.[5] In 2010, she began working for Fuji Television's Sports Division, becoming a director and journalist.[4]

In April 2015, Nakano married her longtime boyfriend.[6]

Career

Nakano started skating in 1991 at the Grand Prix Tokai Figure Skating Club, where Machiko Yamada was coaching. Nakano met Midori Ito there, who inspired her to take her skating seriously.

On the junior level, Nakano won two ISU Junior Grand Prix events and earned the silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships.

At her first senior international event, the 2002 Skate America, Nakano became the third female skater in the history of the sport to land a triple Axel in an ISU sanctioned competition, and the first to have done so in ten years.[2][7][8] She went on to land a triple Axel-double toe loop combinations at the 2002 Japanese Nationals, the West Japan Championships 2002, and the Kanto Gakusei Freeskating Championships 2004.

Nakano performs a donut spin at the 2007 Cup of Russia

Nakano won her first Grand Prix medals in her fourth season on the circuit: bronze at the 2005 Skate Canada International and gold at the 2005 NHK Trophy. She qualified for the 2005–06 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final where she took the bronze. She landed triple Axels in five consecutive competitions in 2005 (Yamanashi Kokutai 2005,[9] Kanto Gakusei Freeskating Championships,[10] Tokyo Figure Skating Championships,[11] Skate Canada International, and Asian Figure Skating Championships).[12] At the 2005 Skate Canada, she became the first woman to land a triple Axel under the ISU Judging System in ISU Senior level competition.[13] She placed 5th at the 2005–06 Nationals, missing a berth on the Olympic team. At the World Championships she finished 5th in 2006, 5th in 2007 and 4th in 2008.

In the 2008–09 season, Nakano won the silver medal at the 2008 Skate America and the bronze at the 2008 NHK Trophy. She qualified for the 2008–09 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, where she placed fifth. At the 2008–09 Japan Figure Skating Championships, Nakano led after the short program but three of her jumps were downgraded in the free skate, resulting in her placing 6th in the long program and 5th overall. She did not qualify for the 2009 world team.

At her assigned events for the 2009–10 Grand Prix series, Nakano won the bronze medal at the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard and finished fourth at the 2009 NHK Trophy. Although she won the bronze medal at the 2009–10 Japan Championships, she was not assigned to the 2010 Olympic team; fourth-place finisher Miki Ando was awarded the first Olympic spot due to her highest placement as a Japanese female skater in the 2009–10 Grand Prix Final, along with gold and silver Japanese medalists Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki.

Nakano retired from competitive skating in March 2010 due to an injury to her left shoulder.

Triple Axel and signature moves

In her regional competition at the beginning of the 2007–08 season, Nakano landed her first clean triple Axel in two years. She consistently attempted the triple Axel that season, receiving credit for it at the 2007 Skate Canada International,[14] 2007 Cup of Russia,[15] and the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final.[16]

Nakano's signature move is the donut spin. She is also known for her leg wrap when she jumps.

Programs

Nakano performs her free skate to Capriccio Espagnol at the 2008 World Championships.
Nakano performs her exhibition to Aria at the 2007 Cup of Russia.
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2009–2010
[2]

2008–2009
[17]

2007–2008
[18][19]

2006–2007
[18][20]

2005–2006
[18][21]
2004–2005
[18][22]
2003–2004
[18][23]
  • Etude No. 12 in C minor
    "Revolutionary" Op. 10-12
    by Frédéric Chopin
    choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi
2002–2003
[18][24]
  • Prayer for Taylor from Freedom
    by Michael W. Smith
    choreo. by David Wilson
  • Oui, pour ce soir...
    je suis Titania, Mignon
    by Ambroise Thomas
    choreo. by David Wilson
  • Nocturne
    (from Songs from a Secret Garden)
    by Rolf Lovland
    choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi
2001–2002
[18][25]
2000–2001
[18][26]
  • Perhaps Love
    by John Denver
    performed by James Galway
    choreo. by David Wilson
  • Happy Valley
    by Vanessa-Mae
    choreo. by Mihoko Higuchi
1999–2000
[18]
  • Flute Battle
    by Cusco
    choreo. by David Wilson

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International[27]
Event 97–98 98–99 99–00 00–01 01–02 02–03 03–04 04–05 05–06 06–07 07–08 08–09 09–10
Worlds5th5th4th
Four Continents3rd6th11th2nd
GP Final3rd5th5th
GP Cup of China11th2nd
GP Cup of Russia8th2nd
GP Lalique/Bompard6th3rd
GP NHK Trophy1st3rd3rd4th
GP Skate America7th8th2nd
GP Skate Canada11th3rd2nd
Universiade1st
Asian Games3rd1st
Asian Champ.1st1st
International: Junior or novice[27]
Junior Worlds7th4th2nd
JGP Final5th3rd5th
JGP Bulgaria3rd
JGP Canada4th
JGP China1st
JGP Japan2nd2nd
JGP Mexico1st
Triglav Trophy1st N
National[27]
Japan Champ.8th5th6th7th6th5th3rd3rd5th3rd
Japan Junior11th1st2nd
Japan Novice9th A1st A
Team events
Japan Open3rd T
4th P
N = Novice level
T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships.

Post–2002

2009–2010 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 25–27, 2009 2009–10 Japan Championships 2
68.90
3
126.83
3
195.73
November 5–8, 2009 2009 NHK Trophy 3
54.92
5
97.43
4
152.35
October 15–18, 2009 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard 2
59.64
3
106.06
3
165.70
2008–2009 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 18–28, 2009 2009 Winter Universiade 4
52.70
1
101.93
1
154.63
December 25–27, 2008 2008–09 Japan Championships 1
67.26
6
105.34
5
172.60
December 10–14, 2008 2008–09 Grand Prix Final 3
62.08
6
99.85
5
161.93
November 27–30, 2008 2008 NHK Trophy 5
54.82
3
112.60
3
167.42
October 23–26, 2008 2008 Skate America 3
57.46
2
115.07
2
172.53
2007–2008 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 17–23, 2008 2008 World Championships 3
61.10
4
116.30
4
177.40
December 26–28, 2007 2007–08 Japan Championships 4
61.16
3
123.15
3
184.31
December 13–16, 2007 2007–08 Grand Prix Final 4
59.78
5
113.18
5
172.96
November 22–25, 2007 2007 Cup of Russia 2
60.50
3
112.27
2
172.77
November 1–4, 2007 2007 Skate Canada International 4
55.94
2
113.49
2
169.43
2006–2007 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 19–26, 2007 2007 World Championships 7
60.62
6
108.30
5
168.92
January 28 – February 4, 2007 2007 Asian Winter Games 2
57.36
1
105.02
1
162.38
December 27–29, 2006 2006–07 Japan Championships 3
63.34
2
116.38
3
179.72
November 30 – December 3, 2006 2006 NHK Trophy 3
56.86
3
104.07
3
160.93
November 9–12, 2006 2006 Cup of China 2
54.90
2
96.37
2
151.27
2005–2006 season
Date Event QR SP FS Total
March 19–26, 2006 2006 World Championships 4
27.79
6
59.62
6
108.24
5
195.65
January 23–26, 2006 2006 Four Continents Championships 3
53.53
1
107.96
2
161.49
December 23–25, 2005 2005–06 Japan Championships 5
61.46
5
114.20
5
175.66
December 16–18, 2005 2005–06 Grand Prix Final 4
56.04
3
105.78
3
161.82
December 1–4, 2005 2005 NHK Trophy 2
56.22
2
102.44
1
158.66
October 27–30, 2005 2005 Skate Canada International 4
49.84
3
99.70
3
149.54
2004–2005 season
Date Event QR SP FS Total
February 14–20, 2005 2005 Four Continents Championships 9
45.17
12
76.57
11
121.74
January 12–22, 2005 2005 Winter Universiade 4 4 4
December 24–26, 2004 2004–05 Japan Championships 7
49.08
6
98.40
6
147.48
November 11–14, 2004 2004 Cup of China 11
38.76
9
78.18
11
116.94
October 28–31, 2004 2004 Skate Canada International 11
37.58
10
76.10
11
113.68
2003–2004 season
Date Event QR SP FS Total
January 19–25, 2004 2004 Four Continents Championships 5 6 6
December 25–27, 2003 2003–04 Japan Championships 8 7 7
November 20–23, 2003 2003 Cup of Russia 7
44.68
8
83.00
8
127.68
October 23–26, 2003 2003 Skate America 10
44.20
7
87.90
8
132.10
2002–2003 season
Date Event QR SP FS Total
February 10–16, 2003 2003 Four Continents Championships 3 3 3
February 1–8, 2003 2003 Asian Winter Games 3 3 3
December 20–22, 2002 2002–03 Japan Championships 5 5 6
November 14–17, 2002 2002 Trophée Lalique 8 6 6
October 24–27, 2002 2002 Skate America 8 6 7

Pre–2002

2001–2002 season
Date Event Level QR SP FS Total
March 3–10, 2002 2002 World Junior Championships Junior 2 3 2 2
December 21–23, 2001 2001–02 Japan Championships Senior 4 5 5
December 13–16, 2001 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 4 4 5
November 24–25, 2001 2001–02 Japan Junior Championships Junior 4 2 2
November 15–18, 2001 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix, Japan Junior 2 2 2
September 13–16, 2001 2001–02 Junior Grand Prix, Bulgaria Junior 3 4 3
2000–2001 season
Date Event Level QR SP FS Total
February 25 – March 4, 2001 2001 World Junior Championships Junior 5 5 4 4
December 14–17, 2000 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 3 3 3
November 25–26, 2000 2000–01 Japan Junior Championships Junior 1 1 1
October 12–15, 2000 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix, China Junior 5 1 1
September 14–17, 2000 2000–01 Junior Grand Prix, Mexico Junior 1 2 1
1999–2000 season
Date Event Level QR SP FS Total
March 5–12, 2000 2000 World Junior Championships Junior 3 4 9 7
December 24–26, 1999 1999–2000 Japan Championships Senior 10 7 8
November 18–21, 1999 1999–2000 Junior Grand Prix, Japan Junior 5 2 2
September 29 – October 3, 1999 1999–2000 Junior Grand Prix, Canada Junior 4 4 4
1998–1999 season
Date Event Level QR SP FS Total
April 7–11, 1999 1999 Triglav Trophy Novice 1 1 1
October 30 – November 1, 1998 1998–99 Japan Junior Championships Junior 16 9 11
  • QR = Qualifying round; SP = Short program; FS = Free skating

References

  1. Miane, D'Arcy (7 Dec 2017). "Tonya Harding and the seven other women skaters who have successfully landed the triple axel". ESPN. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. "Yukari NAKANO: 2009/2010". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 30, 2010.
  3. "中野 友加里 NAKANO Yukari" (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on October 9, 2009.
  4. Gallagher, Jack (February 24, 2015). "Success after skating: Nakano's determination rewarded". The Japan Times.
  5. "Profile". Official website of Yukari Nakano. Archived from the original on February 16, 2010.
  6. "元フィギュアスケート、現フジテレビ社員 中野友加里さん結婚". Chunichi Sports. Chunichi Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  7. "2002 Skate America - Figure Skating Highlights". GoldenSkate.com. 2002-10-29. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  8. Mittan, Barry (2002-11-02). "Triple Axel Makes Nakano a Contender". GoldenSkate. Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
  9. "Nakano Finished 11th at 4CC". WasedaSports.com. 2005-02-23. Archived from the original on 2005-10-27. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  10. "Nakano Won Again at the Competition. Showed Her New Choreography". WasedaSports.com. 2005-05-28. Archived from the original on 2008-01-22. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  11. "Tokyo Figure Skating Championships 2005 Judges Scores" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  12. "Nakano Won at the Asian Championships". Figure Skating News. 2005-11-17. Archived from the original on 2005-11-28. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  13. "Skate Canada 2005 ISU Judges Scores" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
  14. "2007 Skate Canada Ladies Free Skating Protocol" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  15. "2007 Cup of Russia Ladies Free Skating Protocol" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  16. "2007-2008 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final Ladies Free Skating Protocol" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  17. "Yukari NAKANO: 2008/2009". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009.
  18. "Programs". Official website of Yukari Nakano. Archived from the original on June 6, 2008.
  19. "Yukari NAKANO: 2007/2008". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008.
  20. "Yukari NAKANO: 2006/2007". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 26, 2007.
  21. "Yukari NAKANO: 2005/2006". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 13, 2006.
  22. "Yukari NAKANO: 2004/2005". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005.
  23. "Yukari NAKANO: 2003/2004". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 3, 2004.
  24. "Yukari NAKANO: 2002/2003". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 28, 2003.
  25. "Yukari NAKANO: 2001/2002". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 12, 2002.
  26. "Yukari NAKANO: 2000/2001". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 8, 2001.
  27. "Competition Results: Yukari NAKANO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014.

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