Akiko Suzuki

Personal information
Full name: Akiko Suzuki
Country represented: Japan
Date of birth: March 28, 1985 (1985-03-28) (age 25)
Place of birth: Toyohashi, Aichi
Height: 1.58 m (5 ft 2 in)
Coach: Hiroshi Nagakubo, Yoriko Naruse
Former coach: Masoko Ogino
Choreographer: Kenji Miyamoto, Pasquale Camerlengo
Former choreographer: Shae-Lynn Bourne, Yukako Sugita
Skating club: Howa Sports Land
Medal record
Ladies' Figure Skating
Competitor for Japan
Four Continents Championships
Silver 2010 Jeonju Ladies' singles
Grand Prix Final
Bronze 2009 Tokyo Ladies' singles
Grand Prix Cup of China
Gold 2009 Beijing Ladies' singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Bronze 2001–2002 Bled Ladies' singles
ISU personal best scores
Combined total: 181.44
2010 Winter Olympics
Short program: 61.02
2010 Winter Olympics
Free skate: 120.42
2010 Winter Olympics

Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 明子, Suzuki Akiko) born March 28, 1985 in Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan is a Japanese figure skater. She is the 2010 Japanese national silver medalist, the 2010 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2009 Grand Prix Final bronze medalist and the 2007 Winter University Games Champion.

As of November 2010, she was ranked 2nd in the world by the International Skating Union (ISU)

Personal life
She suffered from anorexia nervosa and therefore missed the entire 2003-2004 season of skating.

Career
Suzuki won the bronze medal at the 2001-2002 Junior Grand Prix Final, and has competed at both the World Junior Figure Skating Championships and the Four Continents Championships.

After having a successful junior career, Suzuki was hampered by her struggles with anorexia. She did not compete at all in the 2003-2004 season. She returned to competitive skating in the 2004-2005 season after being inspired by Shizuka Arakawa's victory at the 2004 World Championships.

She won the silver medal at the 2008 NHK Trophy and the gold medal at the 2009 Cup of China. She won the bronze medal at the 2009-2010 ISU Grand Prix Final. Suzuki earned a place on the Japanese Olympic team after she placed second at the 2009-2010 Japan Figure Skating Championships. She was also assigned to compete at the 2010 Four Continents Championships, where she won the silver medal.

Programs
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2010–11 Tango Jalousie
by Jacob Gade Fiddler on the Roof (musical)
by Jerry Bock Tennessee Waltz
by Patti Page
2009–10 Andalucia
from Riverdance West Side Story
by Leonard Bernstein Caribe
by Michel Camilo
2008–09 La Campanella
by Franz Liszt Dark Eyes
by Francis Lai Libertango
by Ástor Piazzolla
2007–08 Firedance
from Riverdance
by Bill Whelan Titanic
by James Horner Titanic
by James Horner
2006–07 Firedance
from Riverdance
by Bill Whelan Moonlight Sonata
by Ludwig van Beethoven It's A Beautiful Day
by Sarah Brightman Nocturne
from Songs from a Secret Garden
by Rolf Lovland
2005–06 Bolero Fantasy
by The Planets Moonlight Sonata
by Ludwig van Beethoven
2004–05 Bolero Fantasy
by The Planets Salome
by Richard Strauss
2003–04 Bolero Fantasy
by The Planets The Red Violin
from Rodorigo
2002–03 Introduction and Rondo capriccioso
by Camille Saint-Saëns The Red Violin
from Rodorigo
2001–02 Piano Concerto #1 in E minor, op.11
by Frederic Chopin Romeo and Juliet
by Nino Rota, William Walton
and Sergei Prokofiev
Competitive highlight
Post 2004
Event 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011
Winter Olympic Games 8th
World Championships 11th
Four Continents Championships 8th 2nd
Japanese Championships 12th 12th 10th 5th 4th 2nd
Japanese Junior Championships 3rd 5th
Grand Prix Final 3rd TBD
Cup of Russia 2nd
Cup of China 1st 2nd
Skate Canada International 5th
NHK Trophy 2nd
Finlandia Trophy 1st 1st
Nebelhorn Trophy 3rd
International Challenge Cup 1st
Golden Spin of Zagreb 7th 1st
Winter Universiade 8th 1st
New Zealand Winter Games 1st

Pre 2004
Event 1998-1999 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004
Four Continents Championships 8th
World Junior Championships 7th
Japanese Championships 4th 4th 9th
Japanese Junior Championships 2nd 5th 5th
Junior Grand Prix, Final 3rd
Junior Grand Prix, China 5th
Junior Grand Prix, USA 1st
Junior Grand Prix, Japan 1st
Junior Grand Prix, Ostrava 3rd
Junior Grand Prix, Norway 8th
Junior Grand Prix, Ukraine 6th
Golden Spin of Zagreb

* Suzuki did not compete in the 2003-2004 season.