Narumi Takahashi
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
pair skater. She competes with Mervin Tran
. They are the 2010 Junior World silver medalists
, 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final champions, and 2008–2010 Japanese national champions
.
, Japan
. Her father's job took the family to China
when she was nine. She lived in China for five years. She moved to Montreal
, Quebec
, Canada
to train with Tran in 2007. In addition to skating, Takahashi also played soccer for six years on a city team.
. She is a Japanese bronze medalist in novice ladies' singles.
After moving to China at the age of nine, Takahashi continued skating in singles until she was about 12-13 when she switched to pair skating
. She skated with Chinese partner Gao Yu for one season; they placed 6th at the 2004 Chinese Championships
on the senior level. She decided to leave China and skate for Japan so she asked the Japanese federation for help in finding a partner; she eventually found a partner in Japan but the partnership was unsuccessful due to insufficient height difference. After two years of corresponding with Richard Gauthier, whom she met at a competition in China, she moved to Montreal
, Quebec
. Gauthier began looking for a partner for her in Canada. Bruno Marcotte
recommended Mervin Tran
, who until that point had been a single skater. Tran agreed to come to Montreal for a tryout and the pair began training together in July 2007. They train in St. Leonard.
Takahashi and Tran made their international debut on the 2007–2008 ISU Junior Grand Prix, where they placed 12th and 6th at their events. They won the Japan Junior Championships
and earned a trip to 2008 Junior Worlds
, where they placed 15th.
In the 2008–2009 season, Takahashi and Tran placed 4th at their first Junior Grand Prix event. They won the bronze medal at their second event, qualifying them for the 2008-2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, where they placed 7th. They won the senior title at the 2008-2009 Japanese Championships. At the 2009 Junior Worlds
, they placed 7th.
During the 2009–2010 season, Takahashi and Tran competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. They won the bronze medal at their first event and gold at their second event, which qualified them for the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final
. They also debuted on the senior Grand Prix series with an 8th place finish at NHK Trophy. They won silver at the JGP Final and at the Junior World Championships
. They became the second pair representing Japan to medal at an ISU Championships
(Yuko Kavaguti with Alexander Markuntsov
being the first pair when they won silver in 2001
).
During the 2010–2011 season
, Takahashi and Tran won silver medals at their JGP events and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final
. They won gold at the event, becoming the first pair representing Japan to win the title. They also won their first medals on the senior Grand Prix series, a bronze at 2010 NHK Trophy
, and then silver at 2010 Cup of Russia
. As a result, they were first alternates to the senior Grand Prix Final
. They won the bronze medal at the 2011 Junior Worlds
. They also made their senior World Championships
debut, finishing 9th.
During the 2011–2012 season
, Takahashi and Tran's first Grand Prix
assignment was 2011 Skate Canada International
, where they finished fourth. They won the silver medal at their second event, 2011 NHK Trophy
. In November 2011, Tran said he was considering pursuing Japanese citizenship in order to allow the couple to compete at the Olympics but said it was a difficult decision because it would mean giving up his Canadian citizenship. They became the first Japanese pair to qualify for the senior Grand Prix Final
.
(with Yoshiaki Yamada)
(with Gao for China)
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
pair skater. She competes with Mervin Tran
Mervin Tran
Mervin Tran is a Canadian figure skater who currently competes as a pair skater for Japan with Narumi Takahashi. They are the 2010 Junior World silver medalists, 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final champions, and 2008–2010 Japanese national champions.- Personal life :Tran was born in Regina,...
. They are the 2010 Junior World silver medalists
2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2009–2010 figure skating season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they were an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of...
, 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final champions, and 2008–2010 Japanese national champions
Japan Figure Skating Championships
The Japan or All-Japan Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Japan. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been held...
.
Personal life
Narumi Takahashi was born in Chiba PrefectureChiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Her father's job took the family to China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
when she was nine. She lived in China for five years. She moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to train with Tran in 2007. In addition to skating, Takahashi also played soccer for six years on a city team.
Career
Narumi Takahashi began skating at age five, following in the footsteps of her elder sister. She was originally a single skaterSingle skating
Single skating is a discipline of figure skating, wherein a single person skates alone. Men's singles and ladies' singles are both Olympic disciplines and are both governed by the International Skating Union. The other Olympic figure skating events are pair skating and ice dancing...
. She is a Japanese bronze medalist in novice ladies' singles.
After moving to China at the age of nine, Takahashi continued skating in singles until she was about 12-13 when she switched to pair skating
Pair skating
Pair skating is a figure skating discipline. International Skating Union regulations describe pair teams as consisting of "one lady and one man." The sport is distinguished from ice dancing and single skating by elements unique to pair skating, including overhead lifts, twist lifts, death spirals,...
. She skated with Chinese partner Gao Yu for one season; they placed 6th at the 2004 Chinese Championships
Chinese Figure Skating Championships
The Chinese Figure Skating Championships are the figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of China. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.-Men:...
on the senior level. She decided to leave China and skate for Japan so she asked the Japanese federation for help in finding a partner; she eventually found a partner in Japan but the partnership was unsuccessful due to insufficient height difference. After two years of corresponding with Richard Gauthier, whom she met at a competition in China, she moved to Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Gauthier began looking for a partner for her in Canada. Bruno Marcotte
Bruno Marcotte
Bruno Marcotte is a Canadian retired pair skater who currently works as a coach. Over the course of his eligible career, he competed with Isabelle Coulombe, Nadia Micallef, and Valérie Marcoux. He won the bronze medal a the 1993 World Junior Figure Skating Championships with Isabelle Coulombe...
recommended Mervin Tran
Mervin Tran
Mervin Tran is a Canadian figure skater who currently competes as a pair skater for Japan with Narumi Takahashi. They are the 2010 Junior World silver medalists, 2010–11 Junior Grand Prix Final champions, and 2008–2010 Japanese national champions.- Personal life :Tran was born in Regina,...
, who until that point had been a single skater. Tran agreed to come to Montreal for a tryout and the pair began training together in July 2007. They train in St. Leonard.
Takahashi and Tran made their international debut on the 2007–2008 ISU Junior Grand Prix, where they placed 12th and 6th at their events. They won the Japan Junior Championships
Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships
The Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions on the Junior level for Japan. The first Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships was held in 1931. It is the junior level equivalent of the Japan Figure Skating Championships...
and earned a trip to 2008 Junior Worlds
2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 World Junior Figure Skating Championships were the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2007/2008 season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior...
, where they placed 15th.
In the 2008–2009 season, Takahashi and Tran placed 4th at their first Junior Grand Prix event. They won the bronze medal at their second event, qualifying them for the 2008-2009 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, where they placed 7th. They won the senior title at the 2008-2009 Japanese Championships. At the 2009 Junior Worlds
2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2009 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2008–2009 figure skating season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of...
, they placed 7th.
During the 2009–2010 season, Takahashi and Tran competed on the Junior Grand Prix circuit. They won the bronze medal at their first event and gold at their second event, which qualified them for the 2009–2010 Junior Grand Prix Final
2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The 2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final was the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2009–2010 figure skating season...
. They also debuted on the senior Grand Prix series with an 8th place finish at NHK Trophy. They won silver at the JGP Final and at the Junior World Championships
2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2010 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was the World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the 2009–2010 figure skating season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", they were an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of...
. They became the second pair representing Japan to medal at an ISU Championships
ISU Figure Skating Championships
The International Skating Union organizes four annual Championships for figure skating. It is at the discretion of each member country which skaters are sent to which championship...
(Yuko Kavaguti with Alexander Markuntsov
Alexander Markuntsov
Alexander Markuntsov is a Russian pair skater who has also competed internationally for Japan. He had the most success with Yuko Kawaguchi, competing for Japan. They teamed up in 1999 and were the first pair team representing Japan to medal at an ISU Championship, which they did when they won the...
being the first pair when they won silver in 2001
2001 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual event sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion. The 2001 competition took place between February 26 and March 2, 2001 in the Winter Sports Hall, in Sofia,...
).
During the 2010–2011 season
2010–2011 figure skating season
The 2010–2011 figure skating season began on July 1, 2010, and ended on June 30, 2011. During this season, elite skaters competed on the ISU Championship level at the 2011 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships...
, Takahashi and Tran won silver medals at their JGP events and qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final
2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2010–2011 season...
. They won gold at the event, becoming the first pair representing Japan to win the title. They also won their first medals on the senior Grand Prix series, a bronze at 2010 NHK Trophy
2010 NHK Trophy
The 2010 NHK Trophy was the NHK Trophy Grand Prix competition of the 2010–2011 season and the first of six events in the 2010–2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series. The event is organized annually by the Japan Skating Federation.The...
, and then silver at 2010 Cup of Russia
2010 Cup of Russia
The 2010 Rostelecom Cup was the Cup of Russia Grand Prix competition of the 2010–2011 season. Organized by the Figure Skating Federation of Russia, it was the fifth event of six in the 2010–2011 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series.The event...
. As a result, they were first alternates to the senior Grand Prix Final
2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2010–2011 season...
. They won the bronze medal at the 2011 Junior Worlds
2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 World Junior Figure Skating Championships was an international figure skating competition during the 2010–2011 season. Commonly called "World Juniors" and "Junior Worlds", the event crowned the World Junior Champions in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and...
. They also made their senior World Championships
2011 World Figure Skating Championships
The 2011 World Figure Skating Championships are the World Figure Skating Championships for the 2010–2011 season. They are an annual figure skating competition in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion....
debut, finishing 9th.
During the 2011–2012 season
2011–2012 figure skating season
The 2011–2012 figure skating season begins on July 1, 2011, and ends on June 30, 2012. During this season, elite skaters will compete on the ISU Championship level at the 2012 European, Four Continents, World Junior, and World Championships...
, Takahashi and Tran's first Grand Prix
2011–12 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating
The 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating will be a series of senior international figure skating competitions in the 2011–2012 season. Skaters will compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing at six invitational competitions in the fall of 2011...
assignment was 2011 Skate Canada International
2011 Skate Canada International
The 2011 Skate Canada International was an ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating competition in the 2011–2012 season. Organized by Skate Canada, it was the second of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix, a series of senior-level international invitational competitions.The event was held in the...
, where they finished fourth. They won the silver medal at their second event, 2011 NHK Trophy
2011 NHK Trophy
The 2011 NHK Trophy will be the NHK Trophy Grand Prix competition of the 2011–2012 season and the fourth of six events in the 2011–2012 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, a senior-level international invitational competition series. The event is organized annually by the Japan Skating Federation.The...
. In November 2011, Tran said he was considering pursuing Japanese citizenship in order to allow the couple to compete at the Olympics but said it was a difficult decision because it would mean giving up his Canadian citizenship. They became the first Japanese pair to qualify for the senior Grand Prix Final
2011–2012 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
The 2011–2012 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final will be the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the Junior Grand Prix Final competition of the 2011–2012 season...
.
Programs
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 |
|
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| 2010–2011 |
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|
| 2009–2010 |
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|
| 2008–2009 |
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by The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper... |
| 2007–2008 |
by James Horner James Horner James Roy Horner is an American composer, orchestrator and conductor of orchestral and film music. He is noted for the integration of choral and electronic elements in many of his film scores, and for frequent use of Celtic musical elements... |
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Competitive highlights
(with Tran)| Event | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 | 2011–12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships World Figure Skating Championships The World Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which elite figure skaters compete for the title of World Champion... |
9th | ||||
| Four Continents Championships Four Continents Figure Skating Championships The Four Continents Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition. The International Skating Union established it in 1999 to provide skaters representing non-European countries with a similar competition to the much older European Figure Skating Championships and a chance... |
5th | 7th | |||
| World Junior Championships World Junior Figure Skating Championships The World Junior Figure Skating Championships is an annual figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union in which younger figure skaters compete for the title of World Junior Champion... |
15th | 7th | 2nd | 3rd | |
| Japanese Championships Japan Figure Skating Championships The Japan or All-Japan Figure Skating Championships are a figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of Japan. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing, although not every discipline has been held... |
1st | 1st | 1st | ||
| Japan Junior Championships Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships The Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions on the Junior level for Japan. The first Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships was held in 1931. It is the junior level equivalent of the Japan Figure Skating Championships... |
1st | ||||
| Grand Prix Final Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is an international, senior-level figure skating competition. It is the culmination of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Skaters compete in men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
TBD | ||||
| Cup of Russia Cup of Russia The Cup of Russia is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing. It was held as the Rostelecom Cup in 2009 after... |
2nd | ||||
| Skate Canada Skate Canada International The Skate Canada International is an international, senior-level invitation-only figure skating competition organized by Skate Canada. It is the second competition of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating. The location changes yearly. Medals are awarded in four disciplines: Ladies' singles, Men's... |
4th | ||||
| NHK Trophy NHK Trophy The NHK Trophy is an international, senior-level figure skating competition held as part of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. Figure skaters compete in the disciplines of ladies' singles, men's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.... |
8th | 3rd | 2nd | ||
| Junior Grand Prix Final ISU Junior Grand Prix The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of international invitational junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. Junior figure skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing... |
7th | 2nd | 1st | ||
| Junior Grand Prix, Germany | 6th | 2nd | |||
| Junior Grand Prix, Great Britain 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2010–2011 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the fourteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the junior-level complement to the 2010–2011 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which was for senior-level... |
3rd | 2nd | |||
| Junior Grand Prix, Poland 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the thirteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the Junior-level complement to the 2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which is for Senior-level... |
1st | ||||
| Junior Grand Prix, USA 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix The 2009–2010 ISU Junior Grand Prix was the thirteenth season of the ISU Junior Grand Prix, a series of international junior level competitions organized by the International Skating Union. It was the Junior-level complement to the 2009–2010 Grand Prix of Figure Skating, which is for Senior-level... |
3rd | ||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Mexico | 4th | ||||
| Junior Grand Prix, Estonia | 12th |
(with Yoshiaki Yamada)
| Event | 2006–2007 |
|---|---|
| Japan Junior Championships Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships The Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships is a figure skating competition held annually to crown the national champions on the Junior level for Japan. The first Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships was held in 1931. It is the junior level equivalent of the Japan Figure Skating Championships... |
1st |
(with Gao for China)
| Event | 2003–2004 |
|---|---|
| Chinese Championships Chinese Figure Skating Championships The Chinese Figure Skating Championships are the figure skating national championship held annually to determine the national champions of China. Skaters compete in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.-Men:... |
6th |