“I didn’t know how much it would be when she agreed to teach me, and later the bill that came was the highest I had ever had – 5 million yen.” Shizuka Arakawa on training with Tarasova and financial aspects of figure skating
Shizuka Arakawa about financial aspects of figure skating.
original source: news.yahoo.co.jp
Shizuka Arakawa, the 2006 Turin Olympic gold medalist in women’s figure skating, appeared live on Fuji TV’s “Pokapoka” on the August 1st. She talked the financial aspects of figure skating. Here’s a translation of her comments.
Arakawa raised an “X” sign to the image that “only wealthy people can engage in figure skating,” stating, “I was a common person who started without knowing that it costs money,” emphasizing that she did not come from a wealthy family. “As practice hours, the frequency of changing (costumes etc.), and trips increase, I later found out that the costs add up,” she said.
“When I started, it was a minor sport, so I started it as a hobby, but it was ridiculous,” reflecting on the expenses that came with it. “Because we’re an ordinary family… My parents, who both worked, supported me a great deal,” she expressed her gratitude for her parents’ support.
Moreover, she mentioned, “Initial costs aren’t that much,” and for children, “you can start with skates costing about 20,000 to 30,000 yen.” (140-200 USD – ed.) However, as the competition level increases, shoes can cost 250,000 to 300,000 yen (1700-2050 USD – ed.), and costumes 300,000 to 700,000 yen (2050-4700 USD – ed.).
Furthermore, she confessed that the highest monthly lesson fee was “5 million yen.” (34K USD – ed.) This was the cost when she received coaching from the Russian coach, Tatiana Tarasova, before the 2004 World Championships. Arakawa shared, “I didn’t know how much it would be when she agreed to teach me, and later the bill that came was the highest I had ever had.”
The coaching period “didn’t even last a month. It was probably about three weeks. It was 3 hours a day, 5 days a week,” she clarified, adding, “Depending on the coach, there are percentages for competitions with prize money, and it’s unusual to receive lessons mid-season. Considering the prize money of $50,000 I won, I think that was taken into account for the amount,” she explained how the lesson fee turned out to be high because it was during the season and she had also won prize money. “When I went another time, it was different,” she recalled when she received coaching from Tarasova at a different time, noting that the lesson fee was different.
Related topics: Shizuka Arakawa
Leave a Reply