Wakaba Higuchi Bids Farewell at Japanese Nationals: “I Truly Gave It My All”
Wakaba Higuchi concluded her competitive career at the 2026 Japanese Nationals.
original source: Nikkansports 21st. December 2025 by Matsumoto Wataru
Wakaba Higuchi delivered an emotional farewell performance at her final Japanese Nationals, expressing gratitude to fans as she retires from competitive skating.. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
Wakaba Higuchi (24), the 2022 Beijing Olympic team silver medalist who announced her retirement at the end of this season, wrapped up her final Nationals. Entering the free skate in eighth place after the short program, she scored 133.59 points for a total of 203.06. Despite some errors on her opening combination triple jump and her final triple flip, she managed to pull the program together, saying, “No matter the situation, I skated with the mindset of giving my best.”
This season, she struggled with injuries, but with a total score over 200 points, she said, “I truly gave it my all,” as she bid farewell to the highest stage in Japanese skating.
At the end, she lay down on the ice in a star shape, having given her all, and the arena erupted in thunderous applause. In the kiss and cry, she waved to the crowd through tears.
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