Winter Olympic 2026: Eight years after making her Grand Prix Series debut at the young age of 15. Wakaba Higuchi secured her first career victory in the ISU Grand Prix Series. At the 2024 Skate America, held in Allen, Texas. This marked her 14th Grand Prix event. Where she achieved a score of 196.93, claiming her first gold on the elite circuit.
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Until this triumph, Higuchi, who won silver at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Had earned two silver and three bronze medals in the series. With her last podium finish being at the 2021 Grand Prix de France. Reflecting on her achievement, a thrilled Higuchi said. Winning a Grand Prix event for the first time is unbelievable, and I’m beyond happy.
Looking forward to the next stage in her season in Winter Olympic 2026. She added, I hope to perform even better. At the Grand Prix de France in two weeks and reach the podium again. Once regarded as a standout talent in Japanese figure skating, Higuchi was celebrated for her potential. Even more so than current three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto.
Milano Cortina 2026: Higuchi’s Role in Japan’s Team Silver at Beijing
Wakaba Higuchi began attracting attention after securing back-to-back bronze medals. At the Junior World Championships in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Remarkably, she made it to the podium at the senior Japanese Nationals. As a junior high school student, a milestone not achieved since 2004 by Asada Mao.
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Known for her classical skating style, which has garnered her a dedicated fanbase overseas. Higuchi went on to win the Lombardia Trophy in her first full-time senior season. And earned third place in her debut Grand Prix event, which took place in France. Though she narrowly missed a spot on Japan’s team for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, Higuchi achieved a silver medal at the World Championships in the same season.
Armed with a powerful triple Axle and her popular free skate program to The Lion King, she qualified for the Beijing 2022 Olympics. There, she placed fourth in the individual competition, just behind her close friend Kaori Sakamoto, who won bronze. Higuchi also contributed to Japan’s first-ever team medal, which was initially a bronze but later upgraded to silver; she received the medal this year in Paris.
Winter Olympic 2026: Return to the Ice: Higuchi Reclaims Passion for Skating
After returning from the Beijing Olympics, Wakaba Higuchi began experiencing sharp pain in her right shin. She pushed through the pain to compete at the World Championships, finishing 11th but later revealed she had been skating with a stress fracture. In the 2022-23 season, Higuchi attempted a comeback but decided to sit out the rest of the year after finishing ninth at Lombardia. St. Albert Skier Joins Canada’s Alpine Ski Team for Winter Olympic 2026.
Both physically and mentally exhausted. The idea of retirement even crossed her mind. When Higuchi returned for the 2023-24 season, she struggled to regain her previous form, placing fifth at the Grand Prix de France, ninth at the NHK Trophy, and 12th at the Japanese Nationals. Despite these setbacks, she gradually rediscovered her love for the sport, caring less about results and focusing on rekindling her passion.
She began her summer training earlier than usual, motivated by the upcoming Olympic season. Receiving her reallocated team medal at the Paris 2024 Games added to her renewed spirit. Her hard work paid off as she won the Tokyo regionals, noting she was in even better shape than for Beijing. This preparation shone through in her impressive performance at Skate America, showcasing her return to competitive form.
Winter Olympic: Higuchi Eyes Nationals Title and Grand Prix Final
Wakaba Higuchi has set her sights on winning the Japanese Nationals in December in Osaka for the 2024-25 season. Though it’s still early in the season, she has her eye on reaching the Grand Prix Final as a tangible goal. With the potential to secure a spot at the Final at this weekend’s Grand Prix in France, Higuchi’s momentum could create exciting competition within the Japanese skating scene.
Reflecting on her recent Skate America victory, Higuchi commented, if today were the last competition of the season, I’d probably be thinking about Milano Cortina 2026, but it’s only the first one. While she wasn’t fully satisfied with her performance, she views it as a foundation to build upon.
For now, Higuchi’s focus is on achieving results this season rather than on the Winter Olympic 2026. She admitted, to be honest, the word ‘Final’ hadn’t even crossed my mind. But now, I think if I can keep up this level, it might lead somewhere. Her main aim, she added, is to build confidence while managing expectations.
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