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Midori ItoJapanese figure skater
Date of Birth: 13.08.1969
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Junior Success and the "Tsunami Girl"
- Overcoming Injuries and Olympic Glory
- World Champion and the First Triple Axel
- Artistic Evolution and Olympic Silver
- Professional Success and Retirement
- Legacy and Accomplishments
- Executing the first triple-triple jump combination (1981)
- Executing all six major jumps in a single program (1989)
Early Life and Career
Midori Ito, born on August 13, 1969, in Nagoya, Japan, began skating at the tender age of five. Her coach, Machiko Yamada, renowned for prioritizing technical prowess over mandatory figures, recognized Ito's athleticism early on. At just eight years old, she landed her first triple jump. By 1981, she became the first woman in history to execute a triple-triple jump combination (triple toe loop-triple toe loop), a mere year after its male counterpart.
Junior Success and the "Tsunami Girl"
At her second Junior World Championships in 1983, the 14-year-old Ito made waves by attempting a triple-and-a-half axel. That same year, she clinched the bronze medal at the Junior World Championships held in her home country. Despite not qualifying for the 1984 Olympics due to her age, Ito stunned the skating world at her debut at the World Championships in 1984. In the short program, she showcased the rare double Rippon-triple Rippon jump combination, earning fourth place. In the free skate, she impressed with a cascade of jumps, including a double axel-triple toe loop and a triple toe loop-triple toe loop. However, her relatively low ranking in figures prevented her from securing a higher overall placement.
Overcoming Injuries and Olympic Glory
The 1984/85 season saw Ito sidelined due to an injury sustained while attempting a quadruple jump. The following season, she gradually improved her results, culminating in a third-place finish in the free program at the 1988 Olympics. Her impeccable execution of seven triple jumps, including the unique triple toe loop-triple toe loop combination and one of only two triple lutzes in the competition, earned her a string of 5.9s for technical merit.
World Champion and the First Triple Axel
In the 1989 season, Ito made history as the first woman to attempt a triple-and-a-half axel in competition. At the World Championships, she showcased all six available triple jumps, including the triple toe loop-triple toe loop sequence. Her technical superiority over her rivals earned her unprecedented 6.0s for technical merit, making her the first woman to claim the world title while also excelling in the figures segment.
Artistic Evolution and Olympic Silver
Following the elimination of compulsory figures, Ito faced the challenge of balancing artistic expression with her exceptional technical ability. In the 1991 World Championships, she collided with Lydie Lauber during the warm-up, leaving a gash in her boot. Despite this incident, she executed her triple lutz-double toe loop jump combination in the short program but fell after it. Three judges deemed the fall a non-error, preserving her high scores. In the free skate, however, she faltered on the triple axel and made additional mistakes.
At the 1992 Olympics, Ito fell on the triple lutz in the short program and executed a double lutz instead of a triple in the free skate. She also fell on the triple axel but recovered to land it successfully at the end of her program. Competing with a cold, she was unable to participate in the 1992 World Championships due to complications.
Professional Success and Retirement
Ito transitioned to professional skating, becoming World Champion in 1993 and winning the Challenge of Champions in 1995. She returned to amateur competition in 1996, attempting the triple axel but failing on both occasions. From 1997 to 2000, she performed in shows and carried the Olympic torch at the 1998 Olympics. On March 25, 2004, she was inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
Legacy and Accomplishments
Midori Ito pushed the boundaries of women's figure skating, performing jumps with unmatched complexity. Her spins and footwork also achieved the highest levels of technical execution, earning her 6.0s even in the short program. However, her artistic presentation lagged until the 1991-92 season.
As the first Japanese woman to win the World Championships in women's singles, Ito set numerous records, including:
Executing the first triple-triple jump combination (1981)
Executing the first double Rippon-triple Rippon jump combination in the short program (1984)
Executing all six major jumps in a single program (1989)
Landing the first triple axel (1988)Landing the first triple axel in the Olympics (1992)
