Midori Ito | Golden Skate

Midori Ito

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invisiblespiral

Record Breaker
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Feb 20, 2013
Midori Ito (伊藤みどり, Itō Midori; born 13 August 1969) is a retired Japanese figure skater widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential women in the sport’s history. She won the gold medal at the 1989 World Figure Skating Championships and the silver medal at the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Known for her exceptional jumping power and speed, Ito became the first woman to land a triple Axel in international competition at the 1988 NHK Trophy. Earlier, at the 1988 Winter Olympics, she became the first female skater to land seven triple jumps in an Olympic free skating program. Her athletic style and technical achievements helped transform the technical standards of women’s figure skating and influenced generations of skaters who followed.

Ito lit the Olympic flame during the opening ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Olympics.

She retired from competitive skating in 1992, then returned briefly in the 1995-96 season and in 2011 started competing again, this time in events organized by ISU for adult skaters (ISU Adult Figure Skating Competitions). She competed at the ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition and placed second in her category, Ladies' Masters Elite II.
Ito repeated her second-place finish the following year. In 2013, on her third year competing at the ISU Adult Figure Skating Championship, she won the gold medal with a 12 points margin over the second place competitor. In 2024, Ito won the ISU Adult Figure Skating Competition's Masters Elite Women III + IV Artistic Free Skating category.

She was coached by Machiko Yamada.

Ito's Wikipedia

Ito's Instagram

Achievements:
First woman to land a triple-triple jump combination (1981).
First woman to land a double loop-triple loop combination (in the short program) (1983).
First woman to land five different triple jumps in competition (1983).
First woman to land a triple Axel in competition (1988).
First woman to land six different triple jumps in competition (1989).
First woman to land a triple Axel in the Olympics (1992).

1995/1996
SP: "Firebird" by Igor Stravinsky
FS: "Cinderella" by Sergei Prokofiev
Ex: "Nessun Dorma" By Giacomo Puccini

1996 World Championships
1995/96 Japan National Championships

1991/1992
SP: "Tango Jalousie" by Jacob Gade / "España cañí" by Pascual Marquina Narro
FS 1: "Piano Concerto No. 1" by Sergei Rachmaninoff
FS 2: "Piano Concerto No. 1" and "Piano Concerto No. 2" by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Ex 1: "Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades, "Singing in the Rain" by Nacio Herb Brown and "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen
Ex 2: "On My Own" from "Les Miserables"

XVI Winter Olympic Games Albertville 1992
​
1991/92 Japan National Championships
1991 International de Paris
1991 NHK Trophy
​

1991/1991
SP: "Warsaw Concerto" by Richard Addinsell
FS: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" by Ludwig van Beethoven / "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Variation XVIII" by Sergei Rachmaninoff / "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius
Ex 1: "Rhythm of the Rain" by The Cascades, "Singing in the Rain" by Nacio Herb Brown and "Over the Rainbow" by Harold Arlen
Ex 2: "On My Own" from "Les Miserables"

1991 World Championships
1990/91 Japan National Championships
1990 Skate America
1990 NHK Trophy
​

1989/1990
SP: "Anvil Chorus" by Giuseppe Verdi / "Memories of You" by Eubie Blake
FS: "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Ex 1: "Yotei no Matsuri" by Yasuhiro Sakurada
Ex 2: "Mission: Impossible" by Lalo Schifrin
Ex 3: "On My Own" by Claude-Michel Schonberg

1990 World Championships
Profile on Midori Ito FS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXtWWXBlPw​
​
1989/90 Japan National Championships
1989 NHK Trophy

1988/1989
SP: "Fantastic Tango" by Shinji Wakita
FS: "A Classical Rock" by Frank Mills / "Concerto No.1 for Piano" by Frank Mills
Ex 1: Somewhere Out There" by James Horner
Ex 2: "Conga" by Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine

1989 World Championships
​
1988 Skate America
​
1988 NHK Trophy

1987/1988
SP: "Yotei no Matsuri" by Yasuhiro Sakurada
FS: "Le Corsaire Pas de Deux Adagio" by Riccardo Drigo / "Grand Pas Classique Coda" by Daniel Auber / "Paquita Adagio/Coda" by Ludwig Minkus
Ex 1: "Time Passage" by Seiko Matsuda
Ex 2: "Aramis 78 Image Album" by Akiko Yano
Ex 3: "Sweet Dreamer" by Yoko Takarada

1988 World Championships
​
XV Winter Olympic Games Calgary 1988
​
1987 NHK Trophy
​

1986/1987
SP: "Nine to Five" soundtrack by Charles Fox
FS: "Magical City" by Mika Yamashita
Ex: "Aramis 78 Image Album" by Akiko Yano

1987 World Championships

1985/1986
SP: "Tyrolean Fairy" by Mika Yamashita and Chihiro Yamashita
FS: "Magical City" by Mika Yamashita

1986 World Championships
1985 NHK Trophy
​

1984-1985:
SP: "Sweet Dreamer" by Yoko Takarada
FS: "Ice Paradise" by Tokiko Tsunoda
Ex: "Sweet Dreamer" by Yoko Takarada
1984 Skate Canada
1984 NHK Trophy

1983/1984
SP: no information found
FS: "Righting Attacker" by Ryudo Uzaki
Ex 1: "Kotoriya-no-Mise (The Bird Shop)"
Ex 2: "Aim For The Ace!" opening theme by Goh Misawa

1984 World Championships
1983/84 World Junior Championships
​

1982/1983
SP: no information found
FS: "Lighting Attacker" by Ryudo Uzaki

1982/83 Japan Junior National Championships

1981/1982
SP: "Nine to Five" soundtrack by Charles Fox
FS: no information found

1981/82 World Junior Championships
First lady to jump a triple toe -triple toe combo in history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7a1tCxqch0​
​
1981 NHK Trophy
1981 Japan Free Championships

1980/1981
SP: no information found
FS: no information found

1980/81 World Junior Championships
1980 NHK
​


CompetitionC
Fig		SPLP/FSTot
1995/1996
1996 World Championships-677
1995/96 Japan National Championships-111
1991/1992
XVI Winter Olympic Games Albertville 1992-422
1991/92 Japan National Championships-..1
1991 Grand Prix International de Paris-211
1991 NHK Trophy-111
1990/1991
1991 World Championships-344
1990/91 Japan National Championships...1
1990 Skate America-..2
1990 NHK Trophy-111
1989/1990
1990 World Championships10112
1989/90 Japan National Championships...1
1989 NHK Trophy-111
1988/1989
1989 World Championships6111
1988/89 Japan National Championships...
.		1
1988 Skate America....2
1988 NHK Trophy-111
1987/1988
1988 World Championships14336
XV Winter Olympic Games Calgary 198810435
1987/88 Japan National Championships..1
1987 Fujifilm Trophy...1
1987 NHK Trophy-122
1986/1987
1987 World Championships14348
1986/87 Japan National Championships...1
1986 NHK Trophy-222
1985/1986
1986 World Championships198511
1985/86 Japan National Championships...1
1985 NHK Trophy-111
1984/1985
1984/85 Japan National Championships...1
1984 Skate Canada-...1
1984 NHK Trophy-311
1983/1984
1984 World Championships16447
1983/84 Japan National Championships...2
1983/84 World Junior Championships13113
1983 Prague Skate-111
1983 International Challenge Cup-.
.		2
1982/1983
1982/83 Japan Junior National Championships...1
1981/1982
1981/82 World Junior Championships...6
1980/1981
1980/81 World Junior Championships20118
1979/1980
1979/80 Japan National Championships...3
1979/80 Japan Junior National Championships...1


2019 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition - "Mozart: Gold Von Den Sternen" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_TQcqTwfCA
2018 Legend on Ice - "Scheherazade, Op. 35: IV. Festival in Baghdad - The Sea - The Ship Goes to Pieces on a Rock Surmounted by a Bronze Warrior - Conclusion" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTzs-w4MasA
2018 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition - "Focus" (Homeless John Remix) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A2fPsBxXZQ
2013 ISU International Adult Figure Skating Competition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uejr_-fJcUo / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62PXQaoNuN0
2011 ISU Adult Championships, Master Elite Ladies II - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5tJJixH4U / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUljJwPaJKo
Midori Ito 2011 documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2PuYT660WQ
2002 Salute to Gold Showcase - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxzdfztFkfE
2002 Prince Ice World 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUzsGc8wZrE
2002 Prince Ice World 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm_9-93ncJE
2002 Prince Ice World 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfK447EErkM
1998 Prince Ice World - "I Love Your Smile" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjD8AXgHjwQ
1997 Prince Ice World - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fipscdKurKg
1997 Charity Exhibition (White Ring, Nagano) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzgytaZFqvk
1995 NHK Trophy Exhibition - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyBAFWiuk_g
1995 Challenge of Champions Exhibition - "Memory" from "Cats" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwBjYS-HY8c
1994 World Professionals, Ladies' Technical Program - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca-LiBhdT2E / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mexyWdXbCmQ
1994 World Professionals, Ladies' Artistic Program - "The Little Mermaid" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvRun7ODmac / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj_iTAEOYME
1994 Challenge of Champions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsy50CpgiWM
1993 Challenge of Champions - "The Skater's Waltz" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP8Z5QmSXT0
1993 World Pro TP - "Rose of Pain" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTYctbjv1iE / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Dg3jlLS9W4
1993 World Challenge of Champions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdDz5Qeu9XA
1992 Price Ice World 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPuFVk_PLOQ
1992 Prince Ice World 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu9v5cLFJhM
1989 Champions Exhibition 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4am1_Nsrkw
1989 Champions Exhibition 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2LILsNQCg0
Midori Ito interview after 1989 Worlds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3n2YUArlac
(?) Skate Electric Exhibition - "Sweet Dreamer" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n1GKB09ZGU

23 May 2018 - TSL's "This and That: All That Skate, Midori Ito and DWTS Finale" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKKLhRFwaGA
24 February 2018 - "Midori Ito Conquers The Triple Axel | Impossible Moments" by Olympic Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j33BUhK1yok
1998 Nagano Opening Ceremony - Lighting of the Cauldron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b99lHRbvxps
1992 - A Tale of Two Midoris - 1992 Albertville, Figure Skating - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBgwUvLT3hU
Profiles on Tonya Harding, Kristi Yamaguchi & Midori Ito - 1991 World Figure Skating Championships - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8swcgWAKXA
Midori Ito does 10 double Axels in a row - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sns1G0OdtBo
Midori Ito documentary (in Japanese) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvJ5dTzlePg
Midori Ito - 1981 triple lutz documentary and interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtmzXZ_p0fk
Midori Ito Story 1/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSH6BRbdhww
Midori Ito Story 2/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPQXqKjTeSg
Midori Ito Story 3/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-GDkw66_LU
Midori Ito Story 4/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFkjykSU7nE
Midori Ito Story 5/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mjau6s-0kW0
Midori Ito Story 6/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ3is6W2EL8
Midori Ito Story 8/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2QdZiYQAsk
Midori Ito Story 9/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Tan_qvEEM
1989 - Kurt Browning & Midori Ito side by side Triple Axel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CBCyz1yKT0

Miscellaneous
A montage of her triple axels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SOgMe-MpII
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the creation of the fanfest. You beat me into it. I considered making a place for her since she is one of the greatest skaters in history. :luv17:
 
midori ito : the best female skater ever.. never anyone has reached her level. :bow:
i have nothing to share for the fan fest except my admiration so here it is!!!

We love you Midori!!!!
 
She was so exciting. You never knew what she would do when she stepped on the ice, but you knew it would be spectacular. She was so emotional, fist pumps while skating, clapping, her huge smile ....such an engaging character, much bigger than her teeny, tiny stature. I would bet she had the biggest real height vs. Jump height ever....

I think she was also probably the first skater to jump out of the rink and then back into it to continue on with the program, lol!!!

True legend!!!!
 
I'll never forget her in the 1992 Olympics! She was incredible!
 
Last edited:
Arriba627 said:
How about that triple axel?! Wow! And the Scheherazade music is beautiful (and so is Midori).
Click to expand...

Yes! I cant believe my eyes with that 3A. The word UR cant be seen at all in her skating! :laugh:
She is famous for her techniques with jumps, but I find her artistry is so nice. She and Yamada coach must have had so much effort at that time.
 
hamaguri said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQaE6Y6Sq5k
1990 Worlds LP, probably, one of the best performances
Her performances are so energetic (what a speed! the height of her jumps....), which gives me a power. :)
Further, she's so lovely...
Click to expand...

Really a exiting performance. It's so impressive.
These jumps themselves are worthy to watch and that speed. she makes them look so easy to do even a 3A.
I also love her back counter 2A that looks very cool for a lady skater :cool:
 
yhmafan said:
Really a exiting performance. It's so impressive.
These jumps themselves are worthy to watch and that speed. she makes them look so easy to do even a 3A.
I also love her back counter 2A that looks very cool for a lady skater :cool:
Click to expand...

i think if the current scoring system were adapted in her years, how high tes would be.:laugh:
 
Midori Ito, to me, is just one of the greatest figure skaters of all times.
A great place belongs to her in the F.Skating Hall of Fame.
All the videos you can find online are a reminder of how she was ahead more than 25 years ago (quiet 30!!!). Can you imagine? How could she jump so high? and the death drop? So powerful ...And the speed on ice ? And her spins? And the footwork ? And recovering from the 1) collision warm-up and 2) jumping off the rink and returning to ice sooo quickly in 1991 WC? How many 6.0 she’s got in her career? and I wouldn’t put less than 5.8 for artistic marks... And how bold she was in 1992 OG to present a second 3 A at the end of the program after falling on one before to get an Olympic medal ?
And besides all the ability she had, she was A d o r a b l e.
In total admiration still today!
So, thank you for the thread.:love:
 
If she was young now, and capable of what she could do then... she'd still be way ahead of the times...such gorgeous 3A/3toe combos as well... the practice videos show it perfectly.

When I think of legends in the sport in the women's competition I think of your typical group, and then there is a special place for Midori. She is just incomparable. I think with time that has become more evident. I don't think that at the time of her competing, people/experts etc., really knew how special she was/is and now in hindsight, with what is valued in the sport today, you can see how far above she really was.
 
Last edited:
hamaguri said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQaE6Y6Sq5k
1990 Worlds LP, probably, one of the best performances
Her performances are so energetic (what a speed! the height of her jumps....), which gives me a power. :)
Further, she's so lovely...
Click to expand...

Gorgeous program and even more electrifying performance. Not only great technical prowess but also brilliant choreography. Probably that was my first time watching that, well I am excused as that was before I was born. I remember that thread about the best Sheherazade program on goldenskate. I answered: Davis & White Free Dance with big margin but now Midori Sherezade instantly became my close 2nd favourite.
 
Her "Rose of Pain" Technical program from the 1993 World Pro had amazing technical content. No lady has landed a better triple Axel ever.

https://youtu.be/2ZSWqGwXgw8

It is mind boggling to think this ambitious layout was chosen for a cheesy professional competition.
 
Last edited:
dorispulaski said:
Her "Rose of Pain" Technical program from the 1993 World Pro had amazing technical content. No lady has landed a better triple Axel ever.

https://youtu.be/2ZSWqGwXgw8

It is mind boggling to think this ambitious layout was chosen for a cheesy professional competition.
Click to expand...

The rink is too small for her! As always, i want to see TES counter about her performance!
Love her ina bauer.
 
Has there been any lady who gets the height and power she does in jumps?
 
Last edited:
:jaw: Unbelieveable. I wonder if Liza knew her historic 4-triple SP jump layout had been done 22 years earlier :laugh:
 
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