“For a moment, I thought it was a dream. It’s been such a dark and long road to reach this point.” Mai Mihara on her podium finish after an eight-month recovery from an injury
Mai Mihara’s triumphant return: overcoming adversity to shine at the Summer Cup
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp dd. August 21st, 2025 by Suzuki Kazuki
After an eight-month recovery, figure skater Mai Mihara made her competitive comeback at the Summer Cup (August 9–12), receiving thunderous applause that marked a long-awaited return to form. Here’s a translation of her comments.
During the Summer Cup, Mai Mihara finished her free skate to an overwhelming ovation, soaking in the moment with gratitude. “For a moment, I thought it was a dream. It’s been such a dark and long road to reach this point.” she said. Her appearance marked her first competition in about eight months, the culmination of a challenging and drawn-out recovery process.
At the Japanese Nationals in December last year, Mihara competed in the short program but was unable to participate in the free due to worsening issues with her right ankle and hip. It took months of focused rehabilitation before she could skate again. In February, she finally returned to the rink but couldn’t even attempt jumps initially, likening herself to a beginner:
“I was doing things like drawing flower shapes on the ice and practicing single-leg snake patterns,” Mihara revealed.
Despite ongoing struggles with her physical and mental condition, she slowly pushed forward:
“I wasn’t in any state to skate in the free program at Nationals. For a long time, I felt lost, unsure how to center myself emotionally. I tried many approaches, but nothing seemed to work, and I spent days in that uncertainty.”
Mihara concentrated on ankle training and care, working closely with her trainer to monitor her condition and focusing on recovery exercises off the ice:
“I’ve only just gotten to the point where I can hop again. Some days, my condition limits my training, but thanks to the support of so many people, I’ve been able to keep up my practice. If I can continue like this without overexerting myself, I’ll be able to keep moving forward,” she said with a bright smile.
In the Summer Cup, Mihara moved up from 5th place in the short program to finish 3rd overall, earning a spot on the podium and once again hearing the cheers of the audience:
“I was met with such loud applause. At that moment, I thought, ‘This is real.’ The joy of finishing my program was enormous.”
Looking ahead to her next challenge, the Kinki Championships in October, Mihara remains focused on improvement:
“If I aim to make the final group or the podium at Nationals, I still have a long way to go. This competition felt like my starting line.” As she moves forward, her gaze is unwavering, fixed on the goals ahead.
Reflecting on her return, Mihara repeatedly emphasized her appreciation for those who supported her:
“Thanks to so many people, I was able to come back. I’m filled with gratitude, and from here, I want to keep striving to reach higher levels.”
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