Wakaba Higuchi to retire after next season

[macy]

Wakaba Higuchi has announced she will retire after next season

【フィギュア】樋口新葉が来季引退を表明「目標は五輪…１つ１つの試合が最後に」北京五輪団体銀 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

フィギュアスケート女子で22年北京オリンピック（五輪）団体銀メダルの樋口新葉（24＝ノエビア）が、来季限りでの現役引退を表明した。アイスショー「ドリーム・オン… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[gsk8]

 

[Mathman]

Sorry to see her go. She is my candidate for the one skater that everybody likes (inheriting that title from her countrywoman, Midori Ito. )

 

[msteach3]

Not surprising. I wish her a fabulous final season.

 

[rinkside_user]

I feel 2026 will have much more of a retirement impact than 2022 had. So many skaters decided to continue nearly 4 years ago but the next Olympics will empty the rinks.

 

[elektra blue]

sad but not surprising

 

[4everchan]

i love Kaori. I love Wakaba. But their retirements were expected and there will be many many many more. Brace yourself folks...

 

[RatedPG]

I expected this to be it for both Kaori and Wakaba!! Most figure skaters only last one Olympic cycle. To me, having them both just compete this Olympic season is a bonus.

Plus, the season after this Olympic season will be the debut of Mao Shimada and I expect JSF to fully support Mao in this next Olympic cycle.

 

[Arigato]

i love Kaori. I love Wakaba. But their retirements were expected and there will be many many many more. Brace yourself folks...

 

[Arriba627]

I loved so many of her programs -- Gypsy Dance from Don Quijote, Energia, the Bond program, Lion King, just to name a few. She will be missed.

 

[jorge2912]

Sad news , i thought she would be at least until next winter Olympics games

 

[4everchan]

Sad news , i thought she would be at least until next winter Olympics games

she will be 25 by Milan.... and would be 29 ... already, we are lucky to have her skate at these games...

 

[rabidline]

Similar to Kaori, I am happy that it looks like Wakaba will skate her final season to the fullest, especially considering it was looking like she was going to retire quietly after 2022 Olympics. She has given a lot to the sport, I wish her a great final season and looking forward to see her skates!

 

[macy]

in addition to Kaori winning OG, my other wish is for Wakaba to medal or even win 2026 worlds if she chooses to compete. i just hope she has an absolutely magical season no matter what.

 

[lariko]

They are clearing the space for Shimada. We'll see how it pans out. I am guessing this means no 3A from Higuchi next season. I kindda wish Higuchi found her thing the way Sakomoto did. As is, I was never sure what I was looking at there, it kinda never came together stylistically for me. I still remember that tiara and shudder. Maybe she would present something uniquely hers this season.

 

[Mathman]

I kindda wish Higuchi found her thing the way Sakomoto did. As is, I was never sure what I was looking at there...

II had the exact opposite experience. I always felt that Higuchi was true to her own style without falling in line to be like everyone else. I looked forward to every performance.

(OT, but I feel the same way about Gilles and Poirier in ice dance. They may not win the OGM next year, but they will always be themselves.)

 

[lariko]

II had the exact opposite experience. I always felt that Higuchi was true to her own style without falling in line to be like everyone else. I looked forward to every performance.

(OT, but I feel the same way about Gilles and Poirier in ice dance. They may not win the OGM next year, but they will always be themselves.)

I always got a vibe that she just really wanted to skate mainstream, while just not being made for it, but persisted again and again, (or it was her team, dunno), and in that, imo, was her greatest trouble. Again, that tiara... heh. I felt other skaters during her active career were far more successful at zeroing in on what made them different from the great majority and maxed it out to outshine her.

 

[Jammers]

I feel 2026 will have much more of a retirement impact than 2022 had. So many skaters decided to continue nearly 4 years ago but the next Olympics will empty the rinks.

Yeah but skaters who are long overdue to be in the Senior ranks like Mao Shimada will be taking over after 2026. I can just imagine someone like Mao who hasn't lost a competition in over 4 years is way past skating against Juniors and wants to be really challenged and staying Junior for yet another year isn't helping her skating. Just like the last time the Winter Olympics were in Italy the best skater in the World with the same first name it not going to be there.