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The latest on Fumie

Fumie wins NHK silver,
headed to GP Final

December 3 , 2006

Fumie Suguri earned a berth in the Grand Prix Series Final with a second place finish at the NHK Trophy at Big Hat arena in Nagano, Japan.

Fumie earned 13 points and totaled 26 with her pair of second places finishes in her GP assignments this season. The GP Final is scheduled Dec. 14-17 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Fumie’s free skate program to “Waltz of the Spirits” and “Fantasia” by Karl Jenkins featured a two triple Lutzes (one in combination with double toeloop), two triple flips (one with double toeloop) as well as a triple toeloop and two level-four spins. Her only mistake came when she popped her Salchow. She earned 117.39 points and defended her second place with 179.31 points.

“The support of the audience helped me today,” said Fumie, 25. “I have some issues to overcome. I had difficulty in improving my physical condition and strength before this competition, but it’s getting better with each competition. Now I will train even more before the Japanese Championships.”

Fumie built a lead after her short program skated to “Bolero.” She performed a strong performance that included a triple Lutz-double toeloop combination, a triple flip, a double Axel, a level-three straight line footwork and a level four flying sit spin.

“My edges weren’t so good, because I was nervous, but the audience supported me”, said Fumie. “In the free skating, I’ll show a modern Cinderella program, a humoristic program.”

Fumie wins silver,
picks up 13 GP points

November 4, 2006

Fumie Suguri earned 13 valuable points with her silver medal finish at Skate Canada at Victoria, British Columbia Saturday. It was a hard-earned medal as Suguri almost withdrew at the last minute.

"I wasn't in really good condition before I came here," Suguri said. "I did not know how much I could do at this competition. My health wasn’t good after the busy season. I thought of withdrawing from this event, but then I decided I’ll try until the last moment. I think the audience helped me a lot."

Suguri, represented by Michael Collins Management, was second coming into Saturday’s free skate.

She finished with 168.76 points, seven behind Joannie Rochette (173.86) who jumped all the way from fifth to first by winning the free skate. Rochette, performing in her native country, popped out of a planned triple loop.

Suguri performed to a "Song of Spirits" and "Fantasia" by Karl Jenkins.

The defending Japan national champion and 2004 ISU Grand Prix champion, earned 110.24 points in the free skate. That’s 10 below her personal best but this was her first competition of the season.

Suguri competes at the NHK Trophy and with a good finish can qualify for the ISU Grand Prix final in St. Petersburg, Russia in mid-December.

Fumie gets historic
3rd Worlds medal

March 25, 2006

Fumie Suguri won her first silver medal at the World Championships at Calgary, Canada.

Fumie’s second place finish culminated a successful season which saw her win the national championship, finish fourth in the Olympics and finished second in the NHK Trophy in her native Japan.

Fumie became the first Japanese skater with three world medals. She previously won bronze in 2002 and 2003.

Fumie’s freeskate was .91 points off her personal high set at the ISU Grand Prix Final where she won the gold medal.

"In Torino I skated very well, but I didn't get any medals," Fumie said. "Here, I was tired, I was wondering if I should come here. But this was my destiny and I have a silver medal now."

Fumie 2nd at Worlds,
sets personal record

March 24, 2006

Fumie Suguri is in second place at the World Championships at Calgary, Canada.

Fumie set a personal best of 62.12 points and only trails Sasha Cohen by 3.62 points entering Saturday's free skate.

She who won her Worlds qualifying group ahead of Cohen two days ago. Fumie used impressive footwork to flamenco music to offset a step out on a triple flip.

She is a two-time world bronze medalist who was fourth at the Olympics in Turin.

"I had a jump mistake, but my skate was better than qualifying," Fumie said. "My skating skills were better, with higher points."

Fumie misses a medal,
is 4th at Olympics

February 23, 2006

Two-time World Bronze medalist Fumie Suguri finished fourth at the XX Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy.

Fumie was fourth after the short program and in medal contention, and she had the fourth best free skate. Fumie just couldn't make up the points difference in the free skate to earn an Olympic medal. She improved from her fifth place finish in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Skating to Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor by Sergei Rachmaninov, Fumie missed only one jump, doubling a triple flip combination.

The crowd was clapping along as she performed her straightline footwork.

In the end, Fumie appeared pleased as she clasped her hands over her mouth and was emotional at center ice.

Fumie settles for 4th,
Olympic medal is near

February 21, 2006

Two-time World Bronze medalist Fumie Suguri delivered a clean and exciting program Tuesday night during the short program at the XX Winter Olympics at Torino, Italy.

Fumie is in fourth place with 61.75 points. She is just under five points with leader Sasha Cohen who scored 66.73 points.

Fumie completed an opening triple Lutz-double toe loop combination, a triple flip and double Axel.

Surrounding the jumps was a flying spin, combination spin and well choreographed footwork.

She scored 32.61 points for elements and 29.14 for components for a 61.75 total.
Fumie struggled with injuries earlier this year.

The often-reserved Suguri showed plenty of emotion in selling her flamenco program. Fumie wore a simple red and black dress.

She was expressive, even passionate, through nearly all her moves, especially in her footwork.

She wept as she was showered with applause.

The free skate is Thursday.

Suguri has good practice,
short program today

February 20, 2006

Japan's Fumie Suguri begins her bid for an Olympic medal Tuesday when the ladies short program begins at the XX Olympic Games at Torino, Italy.

Fumie went through her next to last practice Monday before the short program. She landing everything during her short program practice and had a smooth workout.

``I hope that my program will really match the Olympic slogan of passion lives here,'' Suguri said of her short program. ``I would like to be able to express that.''

Suguri in 8th at qualifying round at Worlds

March 24, 2004

Fumie Suguri, starting first in her qualifying group of 21 skaters, finished eighth at the World Championships at Dortmund, Germany.

Suguri, who won a Bronze Medal at the World Championships last year, earned marks up to 5.3 in technical merit and up to 5.6 in artistic, which was good considering her starting position.

Suguri won the Grand Prix Championship in December.

The short program is scheduled Friday with the free skate scheduled Saturday.

Fumie Suguri is among the MCE skaters featured in the 2004 Blades On Ice Calendar. SEE MORE

Tears of joy for Suguri at GP Final

December 13, 2003

Fumie Suguri won her first Grand Prix championship at the Grand Prix Final at Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Suguri, who led Sasha Cohen after the short program, maintained her lead to beat the favored American. Suguri completed five clean triples and two triple-double combinations to earn 120.06 points for the free skate. That gave her a total event score of 182.08. Her main mistake was two-footing the landing of the triple loop.

"People tell me I cry if I don’t skate well, and I skated well and I cried," she said."‘Everyone thinks I’m crying girl." Suguri was emotional at the end of her program and started to cry before she left the ice.

Suguri flowed through her routine and skated with assuredness. She produced the same kind of effort in the short program one night earlier. Suguri landed a triple Lutz-double toe combination while earning her highest technical score of the GP Series with a 32.10 Suguri also was solid with her other elements that included fast spins and entertaining step sequences.

"Before I skated to this music ("Paint It Black") I didn’t know who the Rolling Stones were," Suguri said. "When (choreographer) Lori Nichol gave me this music I wanted to learn more so I got a DVD and watched them."

Fumie wins NHK Trophy for first time

November 29, 2003

Fumie Suguri won the NHK Trophy gold medal and earned a spot in the ISU Grand Prix Finals scheduled in mid-December.

Suguri was second after the short program and was solid in the free skate to win for the first time in eight tries at the NHK Trophy. Suguri humored the media after the event. "This is my first win in eight tries at the NHK Trophy, so I guess I should apologize to the organizers."

Suguri skated a technically secure program to Mozart’s Symphony No. 40. Her only miscue was a double salchow that was scheduled to be a triple but Suguri earned 165.52 points under the new scoring systems used in Grand Prix events.

"I’ve worked very hard since the Cup of China," Suguri said. "I prepare for each competition, but then not everything works. Maybe it has mental or physical reasons. I have to find out."

Suguri was second after the short program skated to "Paint it Black" by the Rolling Stones. She fell on her opening triple lutz planned in combination but landed all her other jumps and exhibited beautiful spins in her performance.

"I did a lot better in practice. Not all the jumps were better but the overall performance was," Suguri said after her short program.

Fumie earns bronze medal at Cup of China

November 8, 2003

Fumie Suguri continued her streak in medaling in her past four Grand Prix events by earning a Bronze medal at Cup of China. Fumie led after the short program but a fifth place finish in the free skate bumped her to third overall. A stumble during a triple flip attempt cost Fumie some points under the new Grand Prix scoring system.

Fumie earned 143.67 points overall, only five behind runnerup Yoshie Onda of Japan.

Fumie put herself in a strong position to win the event when she performed to a classical version of the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black." Fumie started out with atriple lutz-double toe loop combination and kept adding points with her graceful jumps and spins.

Fumie to participate in VIKTORY FOR KIDS

Fumie will join Olympic Champion Viktor Petrenko and other world-class skaters when Viktor hosts a charity skating gala, VIKTORY FOR KIDS, to benefit children who are still being affected by the 1986 nuclear explosion in Chornobyl, Ukraine.

VIKTORY FOR KIDS will be held at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury, CT on Saturday, October 4 at 7 p.m.

Petrenko initiated the VIKTORY FOR KIDS campaign in 2001 in a broad-based effort to bring life-saving relief to his homeland. The nuclear disaster in Chornobyl still devastates the lives of people in Ukraine and causing the country to have one of the highest infant mortality rates in Europe.

The first VIKTORY FOR KIDS raised over $100,000 and the funds were used to build a neonatal intensive care unit in the Children’s Hospital in Viktor Petrenko’s hometown of Odessa, Ukraine.

Fumie to compete at Skating Classic

Fumie will compete at Madison Square Garden in New York City on October 3 at the Campbell's International Figure Skating Classic, the first
competition of the season for the skaters.

Fumie wins Silver at skating challenge

Fumie Suguri of Japan finished her competitive season with a second place finish at the ABC Sports International Figure Skating Challenge April 8 at Bridgeport, Connecticut. Less than two weeks ago Suguri earned a bronze medal at the World Championships.

Fumie wins Bronze Medal at Worlds!

Fumie won her second straight World Championships bronze medal Saturday night at Washington, D.C., by the thinnest of margins. She was fourth in the free skate behind Sasha Cohen but because Suguri won the free skate and placed higher in the short program she earned the edge for the medal.

Fumie Suguri acknowledges the crowd.

Suguri, the last skater of the evening, had a miscue on one combination jump when she popped both of them. But she was more than pleased when her marks were displayed and showed her the winner of the bronze.

"I made one mistake. I wondered about my placement until the last minute. I didn't think about a medal that much," Suguri said.

Suguri said being the last skater did add some pressure. "It was very hard being last. And I waited a long time for my music," Suguri said.

Suguri said last year was long with the Olympics and World Championships. This year she had struggled with injuries winning only the Japan National Championships and Four Continents.

"I felt like this year I was preparing for skating all the time for competitions. I didn't expect to stand on the podium. So I guess I made it on time," she said with big smile.

Fumie first in her qualifying round

Fumie won the free skating B qualifier at the World Championships at Washington, D.C., Wednesday.

Suguri had two errors while skating to Swan Lake but they didn’t hurt her in winning her qualifier.

"I was not satisfied with my performance today, but the skating itself was good and the triple Lutz and double toe combination was good. I will learn from the mistakes I made today and try harder for the short and free programs. I will try harder to make the audience enjoy my performance more, and if possible, I would like to receive a standing ovation, "Suguri said.

Fumie headed to Worlds

Fumie will be among the competitors at the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships March 24-30 in Washington, D.C.

The 2003 championships mark the first-time ever this event has been hosted by the U.S. Capital City.

It is also the first time the International Skating Union's premier event has been held on the East Coast of the United States since Hartford in 1981.
The competition will draw more than 200 Olympic-eligible skaters from over 40 countries as they compete for four World titles: Ladies, Men, Pairs and Dance.

Officials anticipate the event will attract more than 200,000 spectators.

Fumie to compete in figure skating challenge

Fumie will compete in the final international figure skating competition of the 2002-03 season – ABC Sports International Figure Skating Challenge.
The nationally televised event will be held at Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn., Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m.

The competition, sanctioned by the ISU, will feature the top Olympic and World figure skating stars from the U.S. and the world just one week after the 2003 World Figure Skating Championships in Washington, D.C.

The competition will feature a men's and ladies singles individual competition with the athletes each performing one free skate in front of an international panel of five judges. The competitors will compete for top honors in both men's and ladies.

Tickets for the event are available from $35-$55. Tickets can be purchased at the Arena's Box Office located at 600 Main Street, all Ticketmaster outlets (including the Wiz, Filene's, Tower Records, HMV Record Stores and Ricardo's Music Center.) Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: Bridgeport (203) 368-1000; New Haven (203) 624-0033; Danbury (203) 744-8100; Hartford (860) 525-4500.

Fumie sixth at Grand Prix Final

Fumie Suguri finished sixth at the Grand Prix Final in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Suguri was competing only two weeks after winning the Four Continents gold medal in Beijing.

"I didn’t skate well (Friday) afternoon," Suguri said. "I was too slow in the landing of my first jump. It’s hard to skate here two weeks after the Four Continents. There was not really time for practice. I just tried to work on my condition and to stay healthy."

Suguri will now prepare for the final competition of the season, the World Championships at Washington, D.C. in late March.