Nobunari Oda: “This will be my last time competing at Nationals. My knees and back can’t take it anymore, so this year will be my last. My family is supporting me. I want to do my very best.”
Nobunari Oda on competing at the Japanese Nationals.
original source: Nikkansports
Nobunari Oda (37), a former Olympic competitor making his 12th appearance at the Nationals for the first time in 11 years, was seen in tears at the official practice. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
“Today, for the first time, someone told me to ‘do my best in the competition’…” He recalled a conversation with his eldest son as he was leaving home. Having retired in 2013, he noted, “My son was only 2 or 3 years old then. He had hardly ever been to ice shows, and he grew up without really seeing me skate.” It was encouragement from his beloved son that brought tears to his eyes.
“Just wait! Why am I crying?” he asked himself spontaneously, squeezing out the words, “I didn’t intend to cry here. My family is supporting me. I want to do my very best.”
He has decided to retire for the second time this season. “This will be my last time competing at Nationals. My knees and back can’t take it anymore, so this year will be my last,” he revealed. He continues to tackle quadruple jumps, determined to show his final glorious performance to his family and to his juniors. “With a strong determination to make it to the final group in the free skate, I want to perform a flawless SP,” he said.
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