Shizuka Arakawa

Shizuka Arakawa is one of the famous female skaters of the world. Shizuka Arakawa was born on December 29, 1981 in Japan. She has won many championships in skating. Shizuka Arakawa is 2004 World Champion and 2006 Olympic Champion. She won the Olympic gold medal in figure skating and is the first Japanese figure skater to do so. Born in Japan she grew up in Sendai. Her present coach is a former skater from Belarus Nikolai Morozov. She began her career at a very young age. By winning the Olympic figure skating gold she became the second oldest woman to do so.

At a very early age she joined the Chibikko Skate School. After 1998 Olympics she was ranked number two in Japan. Shizuka Arakawa also won the Asian Winter Games in 2002-2003. then she won Winter Universade. Her outstanding performance in 2006 Olympic Games made her more popular. Her gold medal win was the only gold medal for Japan in 2006 Olympic Games.


She came to the limelight when she won gold medal in 2006 Olympics. In 1998 at the age of 16 she competed in Winter Olympics in Nangon. She is popular for her toe loop. Shizuka Arakawa mostly prefers to skate on classical music like Titanic soundtrack and like Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Her skating tactics and skills made her popular in international circuit. She is 5 feet 6 inch and is said to be one of the tallest lady skaters. Shizuka Arakawa is famous for her jumping ability and spins.

Shizuka Arakawa skates in exhibition programs. Presently she is the skating commentator for Japanese TV. Her skating quality gave her significant media attention. She is presently making appearance in many TV shows of Japan. Her gaining speeds, skating quality and smooth cross overs won her many titles. She will remain one of the popular Olympic gold medal winners in skating.




On May 7, 2006 Arakawa announced her plans to retire from eligible figure skating, and she now skates professionally[citation needed]. She appears on Japanese TV as a skating sportscaster.