Wakaba Higuchi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wakaba Higuchi
Higuchi at the 2018 Worlds
Native name樋口 新葉
Born (2001-01-02) January 2, 2001 (age 23)
Tokyo, Japan
HometownTokyo, Japan
Height1.52 m (5 ft 0 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan Japan
Coach
Skating clubMeiji University
Noevir
Began skating2004
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Figure skating: Women's singles
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2022 Beijing Team[a][1]
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2018 Milan Women's singles
World Team Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tokyo Team
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Tallinn Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2016 Debrecen Women's singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Bronze medal – third place 2014–15 Barcelona Women's singles

Wakaba Higuchi (樋口 新葉, Higuchi Wakaba, born January 2, 2001) is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2018 World silver medalist and a five-time Japanese national medalist (bronze in 2015, silver in 2016, 2017, 2020, and 2022). On the junior level, she is a two-time World Junior bronze medalist (2015, 2016), the 2014–15 Junior Grand Prix Final bronze medalist, and a two-time Japan Junior national champion (2015, 2016). She won a silver medal in team event, representing Japan at the 2022 Winter Olympics.[a]

Higuchi is the seventeenth woman to land a clean triple Axel internationally and the fifth woman to land a clean triple Axel at the Olympics.

Personal life[edit]

Wakaba Higuchi was born January 2, 2001, in Tokyo, Japan.[8] She is the youngest of three children — her brother, Daisuke, and sister, Saki, are five and eight years older, respectively.[9] She is a graduate of Meiji University.[10]

Career[edit]

Early career[edit]

Higuchi began skating at age three.[9] She has been coached by Koji Okajima since the age of five.[11]

Higuchi appeared internationally on the novice level for three seasons beginning in 2011–2012. She won novice titles at the Gardena Spring Trophy, International Challenge Cup, and Asian Trophy.[12]

As the 2013 Japanese national novice champion, she was invited to skate in the gala at the 2013 NHK Trophy and 2014 World Championships.

2014–2015 season: World Junior bronze[edit]

In the 2014–2015 season, Higuchi became age-eligible for international junior competitions. Having opened her season at the Asian Trophy, she made her Junior Grand Prix (JGP) debut in Ostrava, Czech Republic, taking silver. With a gold medal at her second JGP event in Dresden, Germany, she qualified for the 2014–15 JGP Final. Higuchi won the Japanese national junior title in November before competing at the JGP Final in Barcelona, Spain. Ranked fifth in the short program and third in the free skate, she finished third overall, behind Evgenia Medvedeva and Serafima Sakhanovich. She then took the bronze medal in her senior national debut at the Japan Championships. In her first appearance at the World Junior Championships, she won the bronze medal after placing third in the short program and second in the free skate.[12]

As the Junior World bronze medalist, she was invited to skate in the gala at the 2015 World Team Trophy.

2015–2016 season: Second World Junior bronze[edit]

At the beginning of the 2015–2016 season, Higuchi suffered from a back injury.[13] Competing in the JGP series, she finished fifth in Linz, Austria before winning silver, behind teammate Marin Honda, in Zagreb, Croatia.[12]

After repeating as the national junior champion, Higuchi edged Mao Asada by 1.6 points for the senior silver medal at the Japan Championships. In March, she competed at the World Junior Championships in Debrecen, Hungary. Ranked fifth in the short program and second in the free skate, she was awarded her second consecutive bronze medal, behind Honda and Maria Sotskova.[12]

2016–2017 season: Senior debut[edit]

Making her senior international debut, Higuchi won gold at the 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy in Bergamo, Italy. She also competed at the 2016 Japan Open. She placed fifth in the individual event and first as a member of Team Japan in the team event.[14] Higuchi's first Grand Prix event was the 2016 Trophée de France in Paris, France. She placed fifth in the short program, third in the free skate, and third overall. At her second Grand Prix event of the season, the 2016 NHK Trophy, Higuchi placed fifth in the short program, fourth in the free skate, and fourth overall.[12]

At the 2016–17 Japan Championships, Higuchi placed third in the short program and fourth in the free skate but was still able to earn the silver medal behind Satoko Miyahara. She was assigned to compete at the 2017 Four Continents Championships and the 2017 World Championships. At the Four Continents Championships, she placed tenth in the short program, ninth in the free skate, and ninth overall. She placed ninth in the short program, twelfth in the free skate, and eleventh overall at the World Championships. Higuchi ended her season at the 2017 World Team Trophy. She earned three personal best scores at this competition, finishing fifth in the short program, third in the free skate, and third overall. She won the team event with Team Japan as well.[15]

2017–2018 season: World silver[edit]

Higuchi competed at the 2017 Lombardia Trophy and scored new personal bests for the short program and combined total to win the silver medal.[16][17] On the Grand Prix, Higuchi won the bronze medal at the 2017 Rostelecom Cup.[18] She won the silver medal at the 2017 Cup of China.[19] Her results qualified her for her first senior Grand Prix Final, held in Nagoya, Japan where she placed sixth overall.[20][12]

Higuchi (left) and Kaetlyn Osmond (center) and Satoko Miyahara (right) at the 2018 World Championships podium

At the 2017–18 Japan Figure Skating Championships, Higuchi finished fourth behind Satoko Miyahara, Kaori Sakamoto, and Rika Kihira.[21] She was not named to the Japanese Olympic team, but based on her international results throughout the season she was named to the 2018 World Championships team.[22]

At the 2018 World Championships in Milan, Italy, Higuchi placed eighth in the short program and scored 65.89 points after falling on her combination.[23] In the free skating, she performed a clean program, scoring 145.01 points to place second in that segment of the competition. She was the only skater that evening who did not receive a single negative grade of execution mark from the judges.[24] She won the silver medal overall, finishing behind Kaetlyn Osmond and ahead of her compatriot Satoko Miyahara.[25] Her free skating program, set to music from various James Bond films and choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne, was voted "the best ladies' free skate of the 2017–18 season" in a poll organized by the skating portal Ice Network.[26]

2018–2019 season: Injury struggles[edit]

Higuchi finished fifth at her first event of the season, the 2018 CS Autumn Classic International. In October, Japanese news media reported that she had injured the instep of her right foot.[27] At her first Grand Prix assignment of the year, the 2018 Skate Canada International, she placed second in the short program, but several errors put her seventh in the free skate, and sixth overall. Higuchi then withdrew from the 2018 Rostelecom Cup, her second Grand Prix assignment for the year.[28] She then proceeded to win Tokyo Regionals.[12]

At the 2018 Japan Championships, she placed fourth in the short program and seventh in the free skate to place fifth overall.[28]

2019–2020 season: Comeback[edit]

Beginning the season at the 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy, Higuchi finished in eighth place after numerous errors. Proceeding to the Grand Prix series, her first assignment was the 2019 Skate America. Higuchi placed third in the short program, landing all her jumps cleanly in that segment, after which she described herself as "really happy to skate a clean program after a long time. I think it has been two years since I skated a program at this level."[29] She struggled in the free skate, dropping to sixth place overall.[30] She was sixth as well at the 2019 Internationaux de France.[31]

Higuchi resumed training the triple Axel in the lead-up to the 2019–20 Japanese Championships, planning to attempt one in the free skate.[32] She placed fourth in the short program, narrowly behind third-place Kaori Sakamoto, after stepping out of the second part of her jump combination and receiving a flip edge call.[33] After being unable to land any triple Axels in the practice session before the free skate, she elected not to attempt it there and placed second in the segment behind Rika Kihira, taking the silver medal. Her only error in the segment was stepping out on a triple flip that was also given an edge call.[32][34]

Competing at the 2020 Four Continents Championships, Higuchi placed fifth in the short program, the only issue being an edge call on her flip.[35] In the free skate, she attempted the triple Axel in competition for the first time, rotating the jump successfully but falling on it. Higuchi also made a few other minor jump errors, placing fifth in the free segment for fourth place overall.[36] She was then assigned to compete at the World Championships in Montreal, but these were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.[37]

2020–2021 season[edit]

Higuchi competed at the 2020 Japan Open and finished second after Mako Yamashita with 123.01 points. She landed her triple Axel in the competition but stepped out on the landing edge. Competing domestically, she won the Eastern Sectionals by almost thirty points.[38]

Higuchi began the international season at the 2020 NHK Trophy, where she won the silver medal, her first appearance on the ISU Grand Prix podium since the 2017–18 season. Higuchi came in second in the short program after she fell on her attempted triple Axel in the short program but landed all her other jumping passes.[39] In the free skate, Higuchi landed the triple Axel as her opening element, albeit marked as landed on the quarter under rotation, but went on to double the planned triple Salchow and triple Lutz jumps. She was fourth in that segment of the competition but remained in second place behind Kaori Sakamoto. This marked the first podium she had stood on at a major international competition since winning silver at the 2018 World Championships.[40]

Higuchi entered the 2020–21 Japan Championships as a favorite for the podium but placed thirteenth in the short program after falling on her triple Axel and executing only a double toe loop as the second part of her jump combination.[41][42] Eighth in the free skate, she rose to seventh place overall.[43]

2021–2022 season: Beijing Olympics[edit]

Higuchi began the season on the Grand Prix at the 2021 Skate Canada International, where she placed fifth in both programs and sixth overall. In the free skate, she landed a ratified triple Axel for the first time in international competition.[44] At the 2021 CS Cup of Austria, she landed a ratified triple Axel in the short program for the first time internationally and set a new personal best after the segment. She struggled in the free skate, finishing fourth in that segment, but still won the gold medal, 5.36 points ahead of silver medalist Park Yeon-jeong.[12] Competing the following weekend at her second Grand Prix, the 2021 Internationaux de France, Higuchi was sixth in the short program after singling her triple Axel attempt. She rallied in the free skate to place third in that segment and rise to the bronze medal position.[45] She said afterward that her next goal was to "aim for 145 points and a perfect performance at Nationals".[46]

With the 2021–22 Japan Championships serving as the final national qualification contest for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Higuchi placed second in both segments to take the silver medal. She did not attempt a triple Axel in the short program and landed it with a step out at the beginning of the free skate. She was named to the Japanese Olympic team, four years after missing it by one placement.[47]

Higuchi began the 2022 Winter Olympics as the Japanese entry in the women's short program segment of the Olympic team event. She opted not to attempt a triple Axel and skated a clean short program, finishing second in the segment and securing nine points for Japan. She did not skate in the free segment, which was given to national champion Kaori Sakamoto.[48] Team Japan won bronze, Higuchi's first Olympic medal and the first podium finish for the country in that event.[49] In the women's event, she landed a triple Axel cleanly but had two other triple jumps called as underrotated in addition to receiving an edge call on her flip, placing fifth with a score of 73.51. She said after that, "the score was not as high as I expected, and I think that is the only pity I had for this performance."[50] Higuchi became the fifth woman to land a triple Axel at the Olympic Games.[51] Sixth in the free skate, she remained fifth overall. She landed the triple Axel successfully again and said, "I had a bite of the bitter part of the Games, " in that she did not make the podium, "but also the sweet part of it. It's the best stepping stone for my athletic life in the next four years."[52]

Days after the Olympics concluded, Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion of Ukraine, as a result of which the International Skating Union banned all Russian and Belarusian skaters from competing at the 2022 World Championships. This had a major impact on the women's field, which Russians dominated for most of the preceding eight years. As a result, Higuchi entered the championships considered a major medal contender.[53][54] In the short program, she doubled and stepped out of an attempted triple Axel and received an edge call on her triple flip, finishing seventh in the segment.[55] Twelfth in the free skate, she finished eleventh overall.[12]

Higuchi sustained a stress fracture in her right shin in late April 2022.[56]

2022–2023 season[edit]

Competing at the 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy, Higuchi finished ninth.[12]

Due to the stress fracture, Higuchi withdrew from both of her Grand Prix events – the 2022 Skate Canada International and 2022 NHK Trophy – and stated that she would miss the entire season.[56]

In May 2023, Higuchi announced that she intended to return to competition the following season.[57]

2023–2024 season[edit]

For her free program music, Higuchi selected Coldplay's "Fix You" and "Paradise", inspired by the American ice dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani's 2018 Olympic free dance. She explained that " it’s a song that links the many things I felt during my break, and what I feel towards skating right now."[58]

Making her return to international competition on the Grand Prix at the 2023 Grand Prix de France in Angers, Higuchi came fifth. She expressed gratitude for the crowd, noting "every time I come to France a lot of people cheer for me. Although it's been two years before this competition, I received support from many people and was able to skate while having a lot of fun."[58] Eleventh in the short program at the 2023 NHK Trophy, she attempted the triple Axel for the first time in the free skate, falling on it. She revealed afterward that she had been unable to land it in practice but "if I managed to hit it, it would connect to better results." She finished ninth overall, and said she felt it had been "a good performance."[59]

Higuchi came in twelfth at the 2023–24 Japan Championships.[60]

Programs[edit]

Higuchi at the 2018 World Championships
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024
[61]
2022–2023
[62]
2021–2022
[63]
2020–2021
[64] 		Poeta:
2019–2020
[66][67]
2018–2019
[8]

James Bond medley:

Michael Jackson medley:

2017–2018
[72][73]

James Bond medley:

2016–2017
[74][75]
  • Byakuya wo Iku
    (from Byakuyakō)
    by Shin Kono
    choreo. by Nanami Abe
2015–2016
[76][77][78]
2014–2015
[79]
  • Kanashimi no Czardas
    by Iwao Furusawa
    choreo. by Noriko Sato
2013–2014
  • Kanashimi no Czardas
    by Iwao Furusawa
    choreo. by Noriko Sato
  • Kanashimi no Czardas
    by Iwao Furusawa
    choreo. by Noriko Sato
2011–2013

Competitive highlights[edit]

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

International[12]
Event 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Olympics 4th
Worlds 11th 2nd C 11th
Four Continents 9th 4th
GP Final 6th
GP Cup of China 2nd
GP France 3rd 6th 3rd 5th
GP NHK Trophy 4th 2nd WD 9th
GP Rostelecom Cup 3rd WD
GP Skate America 6th
GP Skate Canada 6th 6th WD
CS Autumn Classic 5th
CS Cup of Austria 1st
CS Lombardia 1st 2nd 8th 9th
Challenge Cup 1st 3rd
International: Junior[12]
Junior Worlds 3rd 3rd
JGP Final 3rd
JGP Austria 5th
JGP Croatia 2nd
JGP Czech Rep. 2nd
JGP Germany 1st
Asian Open 1st
International: Advanced novice[12]
Asian Open 2nd 1st
Challenge Cup 1st 1st
Gardena Trophy 1st
National[12][80][81]
Japan Champ. 3rd 2nd 2nd 4th 5th 2nd 7th 2nd 12th
Japan Junior 7th 8th 1st 1st
Japan Novice 12th B 3rd B 2nd A 1st A
Eastern Sect. 2nd J 1st J 1st 1st
Tokyo Reg. 2nd B 2nd B 1st A 1st A 1st J 1st J 1st 1st 4th
Team events
Olympics 2nd T
1st P
World Team
Trophy		 1st T
3rd P
Japan Open 1st T
5th P		 1st T
2nd P		 1st T
1st P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew; C = Event cancelled
Levels: A = Novice A; B = Novice B
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results[edit]

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [82]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 214.44 2022 Olympics
Short program TSS 79.73 2021 CS Cup of Austria
TES 46.25 2021 CS Cup of Austria
PCS 34.19 2022 Olympics Team Event
Free skating TSS 141.04 2021 Internationaux de France
TES 73.80 2021 Internationaux de France
PCS 69.26 2022 Olympics
ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE System [83]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 217.63 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy
Short program TSS 74.26 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy
TES 40.86 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy
PCS 34.18 2017 Grand Prix Final
Free skating TSS 145.30 2017 World Team Trophy
TES 75.65 2017 World Team Trophy
PCS 70.29 2018 World Championships


Senior level[edit]

Higuchi at the 2019 Internationaux de France
Higuchi at the 2018 World Championships
Higuchi (left) with Kaetlyn Osmond (center) and Satoko Miyahara (right) at the 2018 World Championships podium

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only. ISU Personal best highlighted in bold.

2023–2024 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 20–24, 2023 2023–24 Japan Championships 15
57.97 		11
122.70 		12
180.67
November 24–26, 2023 2023 NHK Trophy 11
52.18 		8
113.51 		9
165.69
November 3–5, 2023 2023 Grand Prix de France 6
60.29 		4
129.73 		5
190.02
2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
September 16–19, 2022 2022 CS Lombardia Trophy 5
57.75 		11
92.45 		9
150.20
2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 21–27, 2022 2022 World Championships 7
67.03 		12
121.12 		11
188.15
February 15–17, 2022 2022 Winter Olympics 4
73.51 		5
140.93 		4
214.44
February 4–7, 2022 2022 Winter Olympics — Team event 2
74.73 		— 2T
December 22–26, 2021 2021–22 Japan Championships 2
74.66 		2
147.12 		2
221.78
November 19–21, 2021 2021 Internationaux de France 6
63.87 		3
141.04 		3
204.91
November 11–14, 2021 2021 CS Cup of Austria 1
79.73 		4
109.70 		1
189.43
October 29–31, 2021 2021 Skate Canada International 5
69.41 		5
135.86 		6
205.27
October 3, 2021 2021 Japan Open – 1
136.27 		1T
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
December 24–27, 2020 2020–21 Japan Championships 13
61.53 		8
133.51 		7
195.04
November 27–29, 2020 2020 NHK Trophy 2
69.71 		4
131.27 		2
200.98
2019–20 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 4–9, 2020 2020 Four Continents Championships 5
72.95 		5
134.51 		4
207.46
December 18–22, 2019 2019–20 Japan Championships 4
68.10 		2
138.51 		2
206.61
November 1–3, 2019 2019 Internationaux de France 5
64.78 		7
109.34 		6
174.12
October 18–20, 2019 2019 Skate America 3
71.76 		6
109.56 		6
181.32
September 13–15, 2019 2019 CS Lombardia Trophy 9
52.33 		8
112.04 		8
164.37
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
February 21–24, 2019 2019 Challenge Cup 4
62.70 		2
123.54 		3
186.24
December 20–24, 2018 2018–19 Japan Championships 4
72.63 		7
125.00 		5
197.63
October 26–28, 2018 2018 Skate Canada International 2
66.51 		7
114.78 		6
181.29
September 20–22, 2018 2018 CS Autumn Classic International 4
57.54 		5
109.47 		5
167.01
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
March 19–25, 2018 2018 World Championships 8
65.89 		2
145.01 		2
210.90
February 22–25, 2018 2018 Challenge Cup 1
69.25 		1
134.69 		1
203.94
December 21–24, 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships 4
68.93 		5
138.03 		4
206.96
December 7–10, 2017 2017–18 Grand Prix Final 5
73.26 		6
128.85 		6
202.11
November 3–5, 2017 2017 Cup of China 2
70.53 		2
141.99 		2
212.52
October 20–22, 2017 2017 Rostelecom Cup 3
69.60 		3
137.57 		3
207.17
September 14–17, 2017 2017 CS Lombardia Trophy 1
74.26 		2
143.37 		2
217.63
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
April 20–23, 2017 2017 World Team Trophy 5
71.41 		3
145.30 		1T/3P
216.71
Mar. 29 – Apr. 2, 2017 2017 World Championships 9
65.87 		12
122.18 		11
188.05
February 15–19, 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 10
58.83 		9
113.22 		9
172.05
December 22–25, 2016 2016–17 Japan Championships 3
68.74 		4
130.75 		2
199.49
November 25–27, 2016 2016 NHK Trophy 5
62.58 		4
122.81 		4
185.39
November 11–13, 2016 2016 Trophée de France 5
65.02 		3
129.46 		3
194.48
October 1, 2016 2016 Japan Open – 5
116.99 		1T/5P
September 8–11, 2016 2016 CS Lombardia Trophy 1
66.66 		3
112.20 		1
178.86

Junior level[edit]

Higuchi (right) with Maria Sotskova (left) and Marin Honda (center) at the 2016 World Junior Championships podium
Higuchi (right) with Serafima Sakhanovich (left) and Evgenia Medvedeva (center) at the 2014–15 JGP Final podium
Higuchi at the 2016 World Junior Championships.
Higuchi at the 2015 World Junior Championships.

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

2015–16 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 14–20, 2016 2016 World Junior Championships Junior 5
58.08 		2
125.65 		3
183.73
December 24–27, 2015 2015–16 Japan Championships Senior 3
67.48 		3
127.87 		2
195.35
November 21–23, 2015 2015–16 Japan Junior Championships Junior 1
66.83 		1
122.40 		1
189.23
October 7–11, 2015 2015 JGP Croatia Junior 1
60.77 		2
114.29 		2
175.06
September 10–13, 2015 2015 JGP Austria Junior 8
46.55 		4
110.24 		5
156.79
2014–15 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 2–8, 2015 2015 World Junior Championships Junior 3
61.27 		2
124.30 		3
185.27
December 26–28, 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships Senior 3
64.35 		3
117.47 		3
181.82
December 11–14, 2014 2014–15 JGP Final Junior 5
60.37 		3
117.72 		3
178.09
November 17–18, 2014 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships Junior 1
63.98 		1
123.97 		1
187.95
October 1–4, 2014 2014 JGP Germany Junior 1
58.99 		1
117.15 		1
176.14
September 3–6, 2014 2014 JGP Czech Skate Junior 5
52.75 		1
116.93 		2
169.68
August 7–10, 2014 2014 Asian Trophy Junior 2
57.05 		1
109.85 		1
166.90
2013–14 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 6–9, 2014 2014 Challenge Cup Novice 1
40.35 		1
90.74 		1
131.09
November 22–24, 2013 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships Junior 19
42.37 		6
100.44 		8
142.81
August 8–11, 2013 2013 Asian Trophy Novice 3
31.73 		1
72.57 		1
104.30
2012–13 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
March 6–9, 2013 2013 Challenge Cup Novice 1
41.30 		1
75.13 		1
116.43
November 17–18, 2012 2012–13 Japan Junior Championships Junior 6
51.20 		9
91.88 		7
143.08
August 7–12, 2012 2012 Asian Trophy Novice 1
43.06 		2
64.49 		2
107.55
2011–12 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
April 13–15, 2012 2012 Gardena Spring Trophy Novice 1
45.56 		1
63.51 		1
109.07

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b On 29 January 2024, the CAS disqualified Valieva for four years retroactive to 25 December 2021 for an anti-doping rule violation. On 30 January 2024, the ISU reallocated medals to upgrade the United States to gold and Japan to silver, while downgrading the ROC to bronze.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "BEIJING 2022 FIGURE SKATING TEAM EVENT RESULTS". International Olympic Committee. January 31, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  2. ^ "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance : Women".
  3. ^ "ISU Judging System - Season Bests Total Scores 2018/2019". International Skating Union.
  4. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2017/2018". International Skating Union.
  5. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2016/2017". International Skating Union.
  6. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2015/2016". International Skating Union.
  7. ^ "Seasons Best Score 2014/2015". International Skating Union.
  8. ^ a b "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Flade, Tatjana (April 11, 2015). "Higuchi shows promise for Japanese ladies". Golden Skate.
  10. ^ "樋口新葉 / WAKABA HIGUCHI (@wakababy_sk8r) • Instagram photos and videos".
  11. ^ "フィギュアスケート　樋口新葉に聞く「試合前は笑顔つくってリラックス」". Koukouseishinbun. Koukouseishinbun. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Competition Results: Wakaba HIGUCHI". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Xiong, Wei. "Miyahara outshines Asada to remain champion". Ice Network. Ice Network. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "Kinoshita Group Cup Japan Open 2016". www.jsfrsults.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Japan's "power girl" Higuchi gears up for Olympic year". Golden Skate. May 19, 2017.
  16. ^ "Uno, Higuchi take leads with personal-best scores". The Japan Times Online. September 15, 2017. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  17. ^ Gallagher, Jack (September 19, 2017). "Honda, Higuchi make early statements in race for Olympics". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  18. ^ "Yuzuru Hanyu Places 2nd, Wakaba Higuchi 3rd at Rostelecom Cup | ARAMA! JAPAN". ARAMA! JAPAN. October 23, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  19. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 7, 2017). "Wakaba Higuchi robbed of victory at Cup of China". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  20. ^ "Figure Skating: Higuchi looking forward to Grand Prix Final debut". Kyodo News+. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  21. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 23, 2017). "Drama on ice: Satoko Miyahara captures fourth consecutive national title". The Japan Times Online. ISSN 0447-5763. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  22. ^ "樋口新葉は世界選手権、無良は４大陸へ／代表一覧 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  23. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2018 - Ladies Short Program. Judges details per skater" (PDF). isuresults.com.
  24. ^ "ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2018 - Ladies Free Skating. Judges details per skater" (PDF). isuresults.com.
  25. ^ "Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond wins figure skating world championship in Milan". The Guardian. March 23, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  26. ^ "Wakaba Higuchi makes it a sweep for Japan in the ladies categories of our #ProgramsoftheYear Twitter vote". icenetwork on Twitter. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  27. ^ "樋口新葉、東京選手権Ｖ 右足甲を痛めながらも高得点". asahi.com (in Japanese). October 8, 2018. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018.
  28. ^ a b "Sakamoto shakes it up at Japanese Nationals; win's first title". Golden Skate. December 23, 2018.
  29. ^ Slater, Paula (October 19, 2019). "USA's Bradie Tennell leads at 2019 Skate America". Golden Skate.
  30. ^ Slater, Paula (October 20, 2019). "Shcherbakova of Russia captures gold at Skate America in Grand Prix debut". Golden Skate.
  31. ^ Slater, Paula (November 2, 2019). "Russia's Alena Kostornaia takes gold in Grand Prix debut". Golden Skate.
  32. ^ a b Gallagher, Jack (December 21, 2019). "Rika Kihira displays confidence, elegance en route to first senior national title". Golden Skate.
  33. ^ Slater, Paula (December 19, 2019). "Rika Kihira leads ladies at Japanese Nationals". Golden Skate.
  34. ^ Slater, Paula (December 21, 2019). "Rika Kihira claims first Japanese National title". Golden Skate.
  35. ^ Slater, Paula (February 6, 2020). "Japan's Kihira leads ladies at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  36. ^ Slater, Paula (February 8, 2020). "Kihira defends title at Four Continents". Golden Skate.
  37. ^ Ewing, Lori (March 11, 2020). "World figure skating championships cancelled in Montreal". CBC Sports.
  38. ^ "2020 JAPAN OPEN & NATIONALS UPDATE". International Figure Skating.
  39. ^ Slater, Paula (November 27, 2020). "Sakamoto soars to lead at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
  40. ^ Slater, Paula (November 28, 2020). "Sakamoto claims ladies' title at 2020 NHK Trophy". Golden Skate.
  41. ^ McCarvel, Nick (December 23, 2020). "Hanyu, Uno, Kihira and more: Stars headline Japanese nationals in Nagano". Olympic Channel.
  42. ^ Slater, Paula (December 25, 2020). "Rika Kihira takes lead to defend her crown at Japanese Nationals". Golden Skate.
  43. ^ Slater, Paula (December 27, 2020). "Rika Kihira defends title at Japanese Nationals". Golden Skate.
  44. ^ Slater, Paula (October 31, 2021). "Russia's Kamila Valieva wins gold at Skate Canada in debut". Golden Skate.
  45. ^ McCarvel, Nick (November 20, 2021). "Anna Shcherbakova wins again in France to secure spot in Grand Prix Final". International Olympic Committee.
  46. ^ Slater, Paula (November 20, 2021). "Shcherbakova wins fourth Grand Prix gold in France". Golden Skate.
  47. ^ Slater, Paula (December 25, 2021). "Sakamoto reclaims title at Japanese Nationals". Golden Skate.
  48. ^ Slater, Paula (February 6, 2022). "ROC overtakes USA on Day 2 of Olympic Figure Skating Team Event". Golden Skate.
  49. ^ Slater, Paula (February 7, 2022). "ROC wins Olympic figure skating team event". Golden Skate.
  50. ^ Slater, Paula (February 15, 2022). "Kamila Valieva skates to lead in Beijing". Golden Skate.
  51. ^ McCarvel, Nick (February 15, 2022). "Higuchi Wakaba joins historic list by landing triple Axel on Olympic ice". Olympics.com. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  52. ^ Slater, Paula (February 17, 2022). "Shcherbakova takes Olympic gold; Valieva falters". Golden Skate.
  53. ^ Campigotto, Jesse (March 22, 2022). "Get ready for a bizarre figure skating world championships". CBC Sports.
  54. ^ "World Championships will be 'much more interesting' with competition so open – Aljona Savchenko". Eurosport. March 23, 2022.
  55. ^ Slater, Paula (March 23, 2022). "Sakamoto tops Olympic score at Worlds". Golden Skate.
  56. ^ a b Kano, Shintaro (October 5, 2022). "Higuchi Wakaba to miss 2022-23 figure skating season with lingering effects from stress fracture". olympics.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2022.
  57. ^ "【フィギュア】今季休養の樋口新葉、８カ月ぶり演技披露「また復帰できるよう」競技復帰誓う" (in Japanese). May 3, 2023. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  58. ^ a b Slater, Paula (November 4, 2023). "Levito secures first Grand Prix title in France". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  59. ^ Slater, Paula (November 25, 2023). "Ava Marie Ziegler takes surprising win at NHK Trophy". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  60. ^ Slater, Paula (December 25, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto flies to fourth national title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  61. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 5, 2023.
  62. ^ @AxelQuadruple (July 9, 2022). "シーズンプログラム" (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved March 7, 2023 – via Twitter.
  63. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021.
  64. ^ "2020 Dreams on Ice" (in Japanese). TBS. September 13, 2020.
  65. ^ Higuchi, Wakaba (April 20, 2019). "難しかった、楽しかった、満喫した〜🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹 Grazie @massyscali ❤️" (Instagram). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
  66. ^ a b "樋口新葉 来季の「大人っぽい」プログラム発表「力強い演技でジャンプも決められるように」". Sports Nippon. April 27, 2019.
  67. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020.
  68. ^ Higuchi, Wakaba (April 5, 2019). "Made the best show program with @j_butt Thank you so much this week🌈" (Instagram). Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
  69. ^ a b Dreams on Ice 2017 (Television production) (in Japanese). Japan: Fuji TV. July 9, 2017.
  70. ^ a b ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Rostelecom Cup 2017 Exhibition (Television production). Match! Arena. October 22, 2017.
  71. ^ a b c "木下グループ presents スターズ・オン・アイス 2018 (Special)". TBS 2. April 21, 2018.
  72. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018.
  73. ^ "樋口新葉、平昌五輪へ今季フリーは「００７」主題歌". Nikkan Sports. July 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017.
  74. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 30, 2017.
  75. ^ Dreams on Ice 2016 (Television production) (in Japanese). Japan: Fuji TV. July 6, 2016.
  76. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016.
  77. ^ Prince Ice World 2015 (Television production) (in Japanese). Japan: BS Japan. May 17, 2015.
  78. ^ Dreams on Ice 2015 (Television production) (in Japanese). Japan: Fuji TV. June 22, 2015.
  79. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015.
  80. ^ "樋口 新葉/HIGUCHI Wakaba". Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014.
  81. ^ "Wakaba HIGUCHI". SkatingScore.
  82. ^ Cite error: The named reference SS-WH was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  83. ^ Cite error: The named reference SS-RS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

External links[edit]

Media related to Wakaba Higuchi at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wakaba_Higuchi&oldid=1215783131"