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Wakaba Higuchi (born January 2, 2001) is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2022 Winter Olympic bronze medalist in the team event, the 2018 World silver medalist, a four-time Japanese national silver medalist (2015, 2016, 2019, 2021), and the 2014 Japanese national bronze medalist.


Personal Life[]

Higuchi's hobbies include shopping, watching movies, and listening to music.

Career[]

2015-16 Season[]

Higuchi's first event of this season was at 2015 JGP Austria in Linz. She ranked eighth in the short program after missing a combo jump, doubling a triple, and losing the axis to a spin. During the freeskate, she popped two jumps, but managed to rank fourth. This put her in fifth place overall.

At Higuchi's second Junior Grand Prix event, 2015 JGP Croatia, she led the short program by 0.25 points. She placed second in the freeskate after popping a triple flip, and this put her in second place overall, behind Marin Honda. Unlike the previous season, she did not qualify for the JGP Final.

Higuchi won 2016 Japan Junior Championships, and placed second at 2016 Japan Championships, behind Satoko Miyahara. These placements qualified her for Junior Worlds.

At 2016 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, she placed fifth in the short program after falling on a jump. In the freeskate, she placed second after a clean performance and received the highest technical score. This put her in third place overall, and she won her second consecutive Junior Worlds bronze medal.

2014-15 Season[]

Higuchi's first Junior Grand Prix event was at 2014 JGP Czech Republic in Ostrava. She placed fifth in the short program after doubling two jumps. The freeskate, however, was free of mistakes, and she led it by 1.73 points. This put her in second place overall, behind Evgenia Medvedeva.

Higuchi's next Junior Grand Prix event was at 2014 JGP Germany. She led the short program by 3.68 points, and the freeskate by 7.67. This put her in first place overall, with an 11.35 point lead. She subsequently qualified for the JGP Final.

During the short program at the 2014-15 JGP Final, she ranked in fifth, only ahead of Miyu Nakashio. In the freeskate, she popped a triple toe loop, but was able to manage third place in the freeskate and overall.

Later that season, Higuchi won 2015 Japan Junior Championships, and received the bronze medal at 2015 Japan Championships. These results qualified her for Junior Worlds.

At 2015 World Junior Figure Skating Championships, Higuchi placed third in the short program. In the freeskate, Higuchi received the highest technical score and placed second, behind Evgenia Medvedeva. This put her in third place overall.

Programs[]

Season Short Program Freeskate
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019

Initial FS (Did not compete):

2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014
2012-2013
2011-2012

Exhibitions[]

Season Music
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017-2018
2016-2017
2015-2016
2014-2015
2013-2014

Detailed International Results[]

(Season bests highlighted in bold, personal bests italicized)

2022-2023 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
September 16 - 19 2022 Lombardia Trophy
Flag of Italy.svg
5
57.75
11
92.45
9
150.20
2021-2022 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
March 21 - 27 2022 World Championships
Flag of France.svg
7
67.03
12
121.12
11
188.15
February 4 - 20 2022 Winter Olympics (Individual)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
5
73.51
6
140.93
5
214.44
2022 Winter Olympics (Team)
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
2
74.73
N/A 3T/2P
November 18 - 21 2021 Internationaux de France
Flag of France.svg
6
63.87
3
141.04
3
204.91
November 10 - 14 2021 Cup of Austria
23px-Flag of Austria.svg
1
79.73
4
109.70
1
189.43
October 28 - 31 2021 Skate Canada
Flag of Canada.svg
5
69.41
5
135.86
6
205.27
2020-2021 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
November 27 - 29 2020 NHK Trophy
23px-Flag of Japan.svg
2
69.71
4
131.27
2
200.98
2019-2020 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
February 4 - 9 2020 Four Continents Championships
Flag of South Korea.svg
5
72.95
5
134.51
5
207.46
November 1 - 3 2019 Internationaux de France
Flag of France.svg
5
64.78
7
109.34
6
174.12
October 17 - 20 2019 Skate America
Flag of the United States.svg
3
71.76
6
109.56
6
181.32
September 13 - 15 2019 Lombardia Trophy
Flag of Italy.svg
9
52.33
8
112.04
8
164.37
2018-2019 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
February 21 - 24 2019 International Challenge Cup
NED
4
62.70
2
123.54
3
186.24
October 26 - 28 2018 Skate Canada
Flag of Canada.svg
2
66.51
7
114.78
6
181.29
September 20 - 22 2018 Skate Canada Autumn Classic
Flag of Canada.svg
4
57.54
5
109.47
5
167.01
2017-2018 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
March 19 - 25 2018 World Championships
Flag of Italy.svg
8
65.89
2
145.01
2
210.90
February 22 - 25 2018 International Challenge Cup
NED
1
69.25
1
134.69
1
203.94
December 7 - 10 2017-18 Grand Prix Final
23px-Flag of Japan.svg
5
73.26
6
128.85
6
202.11
November 3 - 5 2017 Cup of China
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
2
70.53
2
141.99
2
212.52
October 20 - 22 2017 Rostelecom Cup
Flag of Russia.svg
3
69.60
3
137.57
3
207.17
September 13 - 16 2017 Lombardia Trophy
Flag of Italy.svg
1
74.26
2
143.37
2
217.63
2016-2017 Season
Date Competition SP FS Total
April 20 - 23 2017 World Team Trophy
23px-Flag of Japan.svg
5
71.41
3
145.30
1T/3P
216.71
March 27 - April 2 2017 World Championships
Flag of Finland.svg
9
65.87
12
122.18
11
188.05
February 14 - 19 2017 Four Continents Championships
Flag of South Korea.svg
10
58.83
9
113.22
9
172.05
November 25 - 27 2016 NHK Trophy
23px-Flag of Japan.svg
5
62.58
4
122.81
4
185.39
November 11 - 13 2016 Trophée de France
Flag of France.svg
5
65.02
3
129.46
3
194.48
September 8 - 11 2016 Lombardia Trophy
Flag of Italy.svg
1
66.66
3
112.20
1
178.86
2015-2016 Season
Date Competition Level SP FS Total
March 14 - 20 2016 World Junior Championships
Flag of Hungary.svg
Junior 5
58.08
2
125.65
3
183.73
October 7 - 11 2015 JGP Croatia
CRO
Junior 1
60.77
2
114.29
2
175.06
September 10 - 13 2015 JGP Austria
23px-Flag of Austria.svg
Junior 8
46.55
4
110.24
5
156.79
2014-2015 Season
Date Competition Level SP FS Total
March 2 - 8 2015 World Junior Championships
Flag of Estonia.svg
Junior 3
61.27
2
124.30
3
185.27
December 11 - 14 2014-15 JGP Final
Flag of Spain.svg
Junior 5
60.37
3
117.72
3
178.09
October 1 - 4 2014 JGP Germany
23px-Flag of Germany.svg
Junior 1
58.99
1
117.15
1
176.14
September 3 - 6 2014 JGP Czech Republic
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Junior 5
52.75
1
116.93
2
169.68
August 7 - 10 2014 Asian Open Trophy
TPE
Junior 2
57.05
1
109.85
1
166.90
2013-2014 Season
Date Competition Level SP FS Total
March 6 - 9 2014 International Challenge Cup
NED
Novice 1
40.35
1
90.74
1
131.09
August 8 - 11 2013 Asian Open Trophy
THA
Novice 3
31.73
1
72.57
1
104.30
2012-2013 Season
Date Competition Level SP FS Total
March 6 - 9 2013 International Challenge Cup
NED
Novice 1
41.30
1
75.13
1
116.43
August 7 - 12 2012 Asian Trophy
TPE
Novice 1
43.06
2
64.49
2
107.55
2011-2012 season
Date Competition Level SP FS Total
April 13 - 15 2012 Gardena Spring Trophy
Flag of Italy.svg
Novice 1
45.56
1
63.51
1
109.07

Medal Record[]

(In chronological order)

Type Competition Season Level
Bronze 2022 Winter Olympics (Team) 2021-22 Senior
Silver 2021-22 Japan Championships 2021-22 Senior
Bronze 2021 Internationaux de France 2021-22 Senior
Gold 2021 Cup of Austria 2021-22 Senior
Gold 2021 Japan Open 2021-22 Senior
Silver 2020 NHK Trophy 2020-21 Senior
Gold 2020 Japan Open 2020-21 Senior
Silver 2019-20 Japan Championships 2019-20 Senior
Bronze 2019 International Challenge Cup 2018-19 Senior
Silver 2018 World Championships 2017-18 Senior
Gold 2018 International Challenge Cup 2017-18 Senior
Silver 2017 Cup of China 2017-18 Senior
Bronze 2017 Rostelecom Cup 2017-18 Senior
Silver 2017 Lombardia Trophy 2017-18 Senior
Gold 2017 World Team Trophy 2016-17 Senior
Silver 2016-17 Japan Championships 2016-17 Senior
Bronze 2016 Trophée de France 2016-17 Senior
Gold 2016 Japan Eastern Sectionals 2016-17 Senior
Gold 2016 Japan Open 2016-17 Senior
Gold 2016 Lombardia Trophy 2016-17 Senior
Bronze 2016 World Junior Championships 2015-16 Junior
Silver 2015-16 Japan Championships 2015-16 Senior
Gold 2015-16 Japan Championships 2015-16 Junior
Gold 2015 Japan Eastern Sectionals 2015-16 Junior
Silver 2015 JGP Croatia 2015-16 Junior
Gold 2015 Tokyo Regionals 2015-16 Junior
Bronze 2015 World Junior Championships 2014-15 Junior
Bronze 2014-15 Japan Championships 2014-15 Senior
Bronze 2014-15 JGP Final 2014-15 Junior
Gold 2014-15 Japan Championships 2014-15 Junior
Silver 2014 Japan Eastern Sectionals 2014-15 Junior
Gold 2014 JGP Germany 2014-15 Junior
Silver 2014 JGP Czech Republic 2014-15 Junior
Gold 2014 Asian Open Trophy 2014-15 Junior
Gold 2014 International Challenge Cup 2013-14 Novice
Gold 2013-14 Japan Championships 2013-14 Novice
Gold 2013 Tokyo Regionals 2013-14 Novice
Gold 2013 Asian Open Trophy 2013-14 Novice
Gold 2013 International Challenge Cup 2012-13 Novice
Silver 2012-13 Japan Championships 2012-13 Novice
Gold 2012 Tokyo Regionals 2012-13 Novice
Silver 2012 Asian Trophy 2012-13 Novice
Gold 2012 Gardena Spring Trophy 2011-12 Novice
Bronze 2011-12 Japan Championships 2011-12 Novice
Silver 2011 Tokyo Regionals 2011-12 Novice

Small Medal Record[]

(Only awarded at ISU Championships)

Type Competition Season Program Level
Silver 2018 World Championships 2017-18 Freeskate Senior
Silver 2016 World Junior Championships 2015-16 Freeskate Junior
Silver 2015 World Junior Championships 2014-15 Freeskate Junior
Bronze 2015 World Junior Championships 2014-15 Short Program Junior

Social Media[]

Instagram: w_akababy_hi

Snapchat: wakabahiguchi

Twitter: @wakawakaskate

Sources[]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakaba_Higuchi

https://www.statsonice.com/skater/Wakaba/Higuchi/

https://www.statsonice.com/skater/Kaichinihonbashigakuen/Wakaba.Higuchi/

http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00014149.htm

http://www.isuresults.com/ws/ws/wswomen.htm

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