Japan’s Higuchi Wakaba upsets Isabeau Levito in Skate America comeback win
The 2022 Olympic team medallist came from fourth after the short program to take the crown in the Grand Prix season opener in Texas.
Figure Skating
Japan’s Higuchi Wakaba staged a comeback win Saturday (19 October), taking the 2024 Skate America figure skating title in Allen, Texas, a day after finishing fourth in the short program.
It’s the first Grand Prix win of her career and comes some eight years after her senior debut on the circuit at the 2016 Trophée de France. Her last Grand Prix medal came in the 2021-22 season.
"I'm so happy, so surprised," Higuchi said in English, later adding through translation, "I think I felt strongest in my first season on the Grand Prix circuit, and I was aiming for the gold in that season. So, I am really surprised to get my first win at this competition. I really wasn't expecting it."
In the free skate, Higuchi earned a 130.81, the highest of the event. Her total score was 196.93, ahead of teammate Watanabe Rinka (195.22) and pre-event favourite American Isabeau Levito (194.83), the reigning world silver medallist and leader after the short program.
Skating early in the second group, Higuchi seemingly effortlessly blended artistry with technical precision, flying around the arena to a program set to Kate Bush’s iconic song Running Up That Hill.
The 23-year-old’s triumph comes after her 2023-24 season ended with a devastating 12th place finish at the Japanese championships.
Higuchi was a member of the Japanese squad that won silver at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, People's Republic of China.
After her victory, she said she's still not quite ready to turn her aspirations to a return trip to the Games in 2026.
"I'm still trying to go through this season first," Higuchi said. "If this competition had been the last of the season, I might have looked forward to the Olympics and so on. But this is just the first one in the season, I have a long way to go."
Competition at Skate America wraps up Sunday (20 October) with the crowning of the men’s and ice dance champions.