It's Mai time: How Mihara has toughed it out to emerge as one of world's top figure skaters

Things are looking up for Mihara Mai.

She heads into the upcoming ISU World Figure Skating Championships on home soil in Saitama having won all three Grand Prix Series events including the Final, just the fourth Japanese woman to win the mid-season prize.

Then there was the runner-up finish to her bestie Sakamoto Kaori at the Japanese nationals followed by another win at the Universiade Games in Lake Placid. In her latest result, the 23-year-old placed second, again behind Sakamoto, at the Challenge Cup in The Hague.

But Mihara will be the first to tell you she never expected any of this. Not after all she was up against.

“Before the season began, I never, ever expected to have the success I’ve had,” Mihara said during an interview with Olympics.com.

“I think I’ve been shocked more than anyone. It’s been one surprise after another. I had to sit out a whole season and deal with all the frustrations from last year.

“I had to go through a lot, overcome a lot to get to where I am today. But I’m living life as we speak because of so many people, so much support.

“I’m just incredibly grateful to be skating.”

In the summer of 2019, Mihara developed an undisclosed illness. First she had to miss an ice show. Then it was a competition. One thing led to another and she ended up being sidelined the entire season.

It was a crippling blow for someone with Beijing Olympic aspirations to miss that much time. She would not compete again until October 2020 as the global pandemic was in full-force.

At the nationals of the Olympic season, Mihara, after singling a double Axel in a triple combo, finished fourth to just miss the podium - and a ticket to Beijing. To say she was in ruins would be an understatement.

But right away, Mihara began rising from the ashes. Following nationals, she won the Four Continents Championships for a second time with a personal best of 218.03 points to close out her season.

In the off-season, Mihara not only recharged her batteries but also found inspiration from her peers while on the ice-show exhibition circuit.

Rather than sulk or wallow in self-pity, she worked and worked and worked - which Mihara didn’t mind because not that long ago, she couldn’t work even if she wanted to.

So Mihara, with help from her support team, kept her chin up.

“Back in the spring and summer (prior to this season), I had the opportunity to take part in some shows and there, I was able to perform with some of the best skaters in the world who I’ve looked up to all along.

“That experience meant a lot to me, gave me so much joy. I realized I love skating in front of all these fans more than anything and I wanted to channel that feeling into the competitions.”

Saitama will be Mihara’s second world championships, but her first in six years. That feels like ages to Mihara - who can barely recollect her fifth-place performance in Helsinki when she was all of 17 years old.

“Being honest I really don’t remember much about the last time I was in the world championships so this feels like the first for me,” Mihara said.

“I’m super excited about it. It’s in Japan and lots of people will be coming out for it. My friends are telling me they are all going to buy tickets and I can’t wait.

“But I want to be even better than I was at the nationals. I think my work is cut out and I know I can be much, much better so I have a lot to do.

“I plan on going with the same program but I can be way more accurate with each and every element. I want to get everything down to perfection.”

The next Olympic Winter Games are still three years away or only three years away, depending on how one looks at it.

Mihara is not obsessing about Milano Cortina 2026 but it’s clearly on her radar. The Games are something that have felt so close yet so far away for Mihara.

A lot can happen in three years and she will be the first to tell you that. Yet there is hope that Mihara’s time has finally come.

“I’ve watched the Olympics ever since I was little, from Vancouver to Sochi to PyeongChang and it’s such a wonderful stage.

“It only comes around once every four years, something everyone shoots for. It’s that kind of event and I want to compete in it, I really do.

“I’m not thinking too much about it right now but if I take it one year at a time and take that year to the fullest, I really like to think the Olympics will be waiting for me.

“I do feel strongly about it.”