Mai Mihara

Mai Mihara
Native name三原 舞依
Other namesCinderella on Ice
Born (1999-08-22) 22 August 1999 (age 24)
Kobe, Japan
HometownKobe, Japan
Height1.56 m (5 ft 1 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan Japan
CoachSonoko Nakano
Mitsuko Graham
Sei Kawahara
Skating clubSysmex FSC
Began skating2008
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Women's figure skating
Four Continents Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Gangneung Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 2022 Tallinn Ladies' singles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Taipei Ladies' singles
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Anaheim Ladies' singles
Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2022–23 Torino Women's singles
Winter Universiade
Gold medal – first place 2019 Krasnoyarsk Ladies' singles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Lake Placid Women's singles
World Team Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2017 Tokyo Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Tokyo Team

Mai Mihara (三原 舞依, Mihara Mai, born 22 August 1999) is a Japanese competitive figure skater. She is the 2022 Grand Prix Final champion, a two-time Four Continents champion (2017, 2022), the 2018 Four Continents silver medalist, the 2019 Four Continents bronze medalist, the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy champion, the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo champion, and a two-time Japanese national medalist (silver in 2022 and bronze in 2016).

Personal life

Mihara was born on 22 August 1999 in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. She began skating during her second year of elementary school, after watching Mao Asada's figure skating performances on TV. Mihara graduated from Ashiya High School in 2018, then obtained an undergraduate degree at Konan University in 2022.

Mihara suffers from juvenile idiopathic arthritis, skating despite the disease. In 2017, she signed an affiliation agreement with Sysmex, a Japanese company involved with healthcare and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. She has donated her hair three times as of 2022 towards the creation of wigs for individuals who have lost hair due to accidents or medical conditions such as alopecia.

After becoming the Four Continents champion in 2017 while skating to Cinderella, she earned the nickname "Cinderella on Ice".

Career

Early years

Mihara began skating in 2007. In the 2012–13 season, she won the bronze medal in the Novice A category at the Japanese Novice Championships and placed 8th at the Japan Junior Championships.

2013–2014 season

During the 2013–14 season, Mihara debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) circuit, placing fifth in Minsk, Belarus. After winning the Japanese national silver medal on the junior level, she finished her season by placing twelfth on the senior level at the Japan Championships.

2014–2015 season

Mihara started her season by placing sixth at her JGP event in Ljubljana, Slovenia. She then placed seventh at the Japan Junior Championships and ninth at the Japan Championships.

2015–2016 season

Mihara made her senior international debut in early August 2015, winning the Asian Open ahead of Riona Kato. She was awarded silver medals at her JGP events in Bratislava, Slovakia and Linz, Austria, and qualified for the 2015–16 JGP Final in Barcelona.

Mihara placed eighth at the 2015–16 Japanese Junior Championships and sixth at the JGP Final. She was diagnosed with arthritis in December, following the JGP Final.

2016–2017 season: Four Continents champion

In September, Mihara competed at her first Challenger Series competition, the 2016 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. Ranked second in the short program and first in the free skate, she won the gold medal ahead of Russia's Elizaveta Tuktamysheva. Her Grand Prix debut came the following month at the 2016 Skate America. She was awarded the bronze medal, behind American skaters Ashley Wagner and Mariah Bell, after placing second in the short and third in the free. She finished fourth at her next Grand Prix assignment, the 2016 Cup of China.

Mihara (center) with Gabrielle Daleman (left) and Mirai Nagasu (right) at the 2017 Four Continents Championships podium

In December 2016, Mihara took bronze at the Japan Championships, ranking fifth in the short and second in the free. In February 2017, she placed fourth in the short and first in the free at the Four Continents Championships in Gangneung, South Korea, outscoring Canada's Gabrielle Daleman by 3.94 points for the gold medal.

In March 2017, Mihara competed at the 2017 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. Ranked fifteenth in the short program after doubling and falling on a planned triple flip, Mihara ranked fourth in the free skate and climbed to fifth overall. In April, she competed as part of Team Japan at the 2017 World Team Trophy. She achieved a personal best of 72.10 points in the short program and scored a Japanese national record of 146.17 points in the free skate. She finished second behind Medvedeva and 0.83 ahead of compatriot Wakaba Higuchi while Team Japan won the gold medal.

2017–2018 season: Four Continents silver

Mihara (left) with Kaori Sakamoto (center) and Satoko Miyahara (right) at the 2018 Four Continents Championships podium

Mihara won silver at the 2017 CS Autumn Classic International. She placed fourth at both of her Grand Prix assignments, 2017 Cup of China and 2017 Internationaux de France.

After a fifth-place finish at the 2017-18 Japan Figure Skating Championships she was assigned to the 2018 Four Continents Championships. At the championships, she was third in the short program behind countrywomen Satoko Miyahara and Kaori Sakamoto. After a second-place finish in the free skate and mistakes from Miyahara, Mihara rose to second place overall.

2018–2019 season: Winter Universiade champion

Mihara won silver at the 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy. In the Grand Prix, she first competed at the 2018 NHK Trophy, the most hotly-contested ladies' event on the Grand Prix that year. She was third in the short program but dropped to fourth in the free skate and overall despite making only one error, a jump under rotation. She then narrowly placed second at the 2018 Internationaux de France, slightly behind compatriot Rika Kihira. Mihara said she was unsatisfied with her free skate in France but that "overall, it was a good experience for me, and I will continue to practice to gain more confidence."

At the 2018 Japan Championships, Mihara placed third in both programs, finishing fourth overall. She was again assigned to the Japanese team for the Four Continents Championships. Competing at Four Continents, she underrotated her opening combination jump to place eighth in the short program. She described this as an error she would not normally make, even in practice. Mihara then placed second in the free skate, winning the bronze medal overall, her third consecutive Four Continents podium finish. Mihara concluded her season at the 2019 Winter Universiade, where she won the ladies singles' title.

2019–2020 season: Hiatus

Poor health forced Mihara to withdraw from both of her Grand Prix assignments, the 2019 Skate Canada International and 2019 Cup of China. She would not compete for the remainder of the season. Her longtime training mate and friend Kaori Sakamoto would subsequently feel that Mihara's absence from the rink contributed to Sakamoto's lackluster results.

2020–2021 season: Return to competition

Mihara returned to competition domestically, winning the bronze medal at the Kinki Regional Championships and then silver at the Western Sectionals. With the COVID-19 pandemic affecting international travel, the ISU designed the Grand Prix primarily based on geographic location, and Mihara was one of eleven Japanese skaters assigned to the 2020 NHK Trophy alongside South Korean You Young. She placed seventh in the short program. Mihara was third in the free skate, rising to fourth place overall, slightly more than four points behind bronze medalist Rino Matsuike. Addressing her return to competition post-illness, she said, "the crowd welcomed me back, and I can't thank them enough."

Competing at the 2020–21 Japan Championships, Mihara was third in the short program with a clean skate. In the free skate, she doubled a planned triple Lutz and ranked seventh in that segment, dropping to fifth place overall.

2021–2022 season: Four Continents champion

Beginning the season at the Olympic test event, the 2021 CS Asian Open Trophy, Mihara won the gold medal. She was initially assigned to only one Grand Prix event, the 2021 Cup of China, which was subsequently replaced by the 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia. Upon Rika Kihira's withdrawal from the 2021 Skate Canada International due to ankle injury, Mihara was named to replace her. Mihara was seventh in the short program at Skate Canada International despite a clean skate but rose to fourth overall with a third-place free skate. She finished 4.53 points behind bronze medalist Alena Kostornaia, with new personal bests in the free skate and total score. Competing in Italy the following week, she again placed fourth, setting new personal bests in the free skate and total score. Speaking afterward, Mihara said she hoped to regain more power and speed.

At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, the final national qualification event for the 2022 Winter Olympics, Mihara placed fifth in the short program. She was fifth as well in the free skate segment, making a notable error by performing only a single Axel instead of a planned double in combination with a triple toe loop. She finished fourth overall, less than four points behind bronze medalist Mana Kawabe. She was named as an alternate for the Japanese Olympic team and assigned to compete at the 2022 Four Continents Championships. Mihara won both segments of the competition to take her second Four Continents gold, as well as a fourth medal at the event overall. She reflected on her comeback to the sport, saying, "I was well supported, surrounded by very warm people, and it showed me how lucky I am. I was happy to come back."

2022–2023 season: Grand Prix Final champion

Mihara began the season on the Grand Prix at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy in Sheffield. Despite an error on the triple flip, she won the short program, finishing 0.17 points ahead of American skater Isabeau Levito. She won the free program by a wider margin after a clean skate, taking her first Grand Prix gold medal. Mihara reflected that her win at the event was "maybe the biggest happiness it gave to me". Her second assignment, the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo, was widely regarded as a contest between her and Belgium's Loena Hendrickx, the reigning World silver medalist who had earlier won the 2022 Grand Prix de France. Mihara placed second in the short program, 1.30 points behind Hendrickx. Both she and Hendrickx made errors in the free skate segment, but Mihara took first overall, earning her second gold medal and qualifying to the Grand Prix Final for the first time in her career. She cited "a lot of regrets" about the free skate but said she was "happy to go to the Grand Prix Final."

With the Final being held in Turin, Mihara was able to train with longtime friend and fellow qualifier Kaori Sakamoto in the leadup, having not been able to train together for "such a long time." Mihara said she found it "very gratifying." She finished second in the short program, 1.28 points behind Sakamoto and only 0.34 points ahead of third-place Hendrickx. Her score was a new personal best in the segment of 74.58. Mihara went on to finish first in what the ISU itself characterized as a "turbulent" free skate segment, despite underrotating one jump and falling out of another, while frontrunner Sakamoto dropped off the podium entirely. Mihara called the result "unbelievable." The Olympic Channel concluded, "Mihara Mai is having the season of her dreams."

Following her victory at the Final, Mihara entered the 2022–23 Japan Championships as a title contender. She finished second in the short program with a 74.70 score, 3.09 points behind Sakamoto, after the second part of her jump combination was called underrotated. She was second in the free skate as well, albeit 10.03 points behind Sakamoto, winning the silver medal and standing on the Japanese national podium for the first time in six years.

Competing at her second Winter World University Games (formerly Universiade), this time held in Lake Placid, Mihara finished second in the short program behind Sakamoto. She won the free skate, taking the gold medal for a second time. She was on the third woman to win the event twice, after Miwa Fukuhara and Tonia Kwiatkowski. Mihara next appeared at the International Challenge Cup at the end of February, winning the silver medal. Sakamoto and Mana Kawabe joined her on the podium in a Japanese sweep of the medals. She noted that she had missed some training recently as a result of influenza.

The 2023 World Championships were scheduled to take place on home ice in Saitama, with Mihara attending the event for the first time since 2017. She finished third in the short program, winning a bronze small medal, despite underrotating the second part of her combination. Several errors in the free skate dropped her to fifth. Afterwards, Mihara said she was " so frustrated, so much that I can't cry," adding that "one of my weaknesses is making mistakes in the last important event. I feel that I still have a long way to go to become a top athlete"

Mihara was named to compete at the World Team Trophy for the first time in six years, and said she was hoping to end her season on a high note following frustration with her performance in Saitama. After making two errors on her jump combination in the short program, she placed fifth in that segment. She was fifth in the free skate as well, dealing with some difficult jump landings. Team Japan won the bronze medal.

2023–2024 season

Mihara was scheduled to begin the season at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy in October, but a "nagging" right ankle injury forced her to withdraw from that event. She subsequently withdrew also from her first Grand Prix assignment, the 2023 Cup of China, saying "I have done everything I can to treat and prepare for competition but have had to make the frustrating decision to withdraw. I hope I am raring to go on the next stage and that I can deliver a perfect performance." She was able to compete at the 2023 NHK Trophy, finishing in eighth place. Mihara said she "was very worried, but I really wanted to skate, do my best and not give up. I'm happy I made it."

At the 2023–24 Japan Championships, Mihara finished fourth in the short program despite quarter-underrotation calls on two of her triple jumps and an incorrect edge call. She had two quarter-underrotation calls in the free skate as well, coming fifth overall. Reflecting on her season, Mihara said she "didn't have many satisfying run-throughs" in the leadup to the championships, adding "I'm very relieved that I made it to the end thanks to my coaches and everyone's support."

Mihara was assigned to finish the season at the 2024 Four Continents Championships, where she came fifth in the short program despite falling on her jump combination. A seventh-place free skate, in which she performed only three clean triple jumps after doubling three other planned ones, saw her seventh overall. Mihara assessed afterward that "I don't think I can finish here after all. I hope I can get my mind and body back together and move on to next season and beyond."

Programs

Mihara at the 2018 Internationaux de France
Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024

The Planets:
2022–2023

2021–2022
  • Fairy of the Forest
  • Galaxy
    by Yuko Toyoda
    choreo. by Lori Nichol
2020–2021
  • Fairy of the Forest
  • Galaxy
    by Yuko Toyoda
    choreo. by Lori Nichol
2019–2020 Did not compete in this season
2018–2019

2017–2018

2016–2017


2015–2016
2014–2015
  • Giselle
    by Adolphe Adam
    choreo. by Marina Zueva, Yukina Ota,
    Kawagoe Masahiro
2013–2014

Competitive highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

International
Event 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
Worlds 5th 5th
Four Continents 1st 2nd 3rd 1st 7th
GP Final 1st
GP Cup of China 4th 4th WD C WD
GP Finland 1st
GP France 4th 2nd
GP Italy 4th
GP NHK Trophy 4th 4th 8th
GP Skate America 3rd
GP Skate Canada WD 4th
GP Wilson Trophy 1st
CS Autumn Classic 2nd
CS Finlandia WD
CS Nebelhorn 1st 2nd
Asian Open 1st 1st
Challenge Cup 2nd
Printemps 1st
Universiade 1st 1st
International: Junior
JGP Final 6th
JGP Austria 2nd
JGP Belarus 5th
JGP Slovakia 2nd
JGP Slovenia 6th
Asian Open 2nd
Gardena 1st
Challenge Cup 4th
National
Japan Champ. 12th 9th 3rd 5th 4th 5th 4th 2nd 5th
Japan Junior 8th 2nd 7th 8th
Japan Novice 19th B 7th A 3rd A
Japan Western Sect. 7th J 6th J 3rd J 2nd 2nd
Kinki Reg. 6th A 2nd A 2nd J 1st J 1st 3rd 1st
Team events
World Team Trophy 1st T
2nd P
3rd T
5th P
Japan Open 2nd T
2nd P
1st T
5th P
TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
Levels: A = Novice A; B = Novice B; J = Junior
T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE system 
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 218.03 2022 Four Continents Championships
Short program TSS 74.58 2022 Grand Prix Final
TES 39.87 2022 Grand Prix Final
PCS 34.71 2022 Grand Prix Final
Free skating TSS 145.41 2022 Four Continents Championships
TES 77.01 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia
PCS 70.78 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy
ISU personal best scores in the +3/-3 GOE system 
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 218.27 2017 World Team Trophy
Short program TSS 72.10 2017 World Team Trophy
TES 39.22 2017 World Team Trophy
PCS 32.88 2017 World Team Trophy
Free skating TSS 146.17 2017 World Team Trophy
TES 76.07 2017 World Team Trophy
PCS 70.10 2017 World Team Trophy

Senior level

Mihara at the 2018 Internationaux de France
Mihara at the 2016 Skate America

Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals are awarded for team results only. Bolded scores reflect an ISU personal best.

2023–2024 season
Date Event SP FS Total
30 Jan. – 4 Feb. 2024 2024 Four Continents Championships 5
65.18
7
118.89
7
184.07
20–24 December 2023 2023–24 Japan Championships 4
67.70
5
131.86
5
199.56
24–26 November 2023 2023 NHK Trophy 4
62.82
9
109.82
8
172.64
2022–23 season
Date Event SP FS Total
13–16 April 2023 2023 World Team Trophy 5
66.85
5
131.21
3T/5P
198.06
20–26 March 2023 2023 World Championships 3
73.46
6
132.24
5
205.70
23–26 February 2023 2023 Challenge Cup 2
73.55
3
129.68
2
203.23
13–15 January 2023 2023 Winter Universiade 2
75.60
1
145.58
1
221.18
21–25 December 2022 2022–23 Japan Championships 2
74.70
2
145.23
2
219.93
8–11 December 2022 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 2
74.58
1
133.59
1
208.17
25–27 November 2022 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo 2
73.58
1
130.56
1
204.14
11–13 November 2022 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy 1
72.23
1
145.20
1
217.43
2021–22 season
Date Event SP FS Total
18–23 January 2022 2022 Four Continents Championships 1
72.62
1
145.41
1
218.03
22–26 December 2021 2021–22 Japan Championships 5
73.66
5
133.20
4
206.86
5–7 November 2021 2021 Gran Premio d'Italia 5
70.46
4
144.49
4
214.95
29–31 October 2021 2021 Skate Canada International 7
67.89
3
142.12
4
210.01
13–17 October 2021 2021 Asian Open Trophy 2
67.83
1
135.75
1
203.58
3 October 2021 2021 Japan Open 5
124.24
1T
2020–21 season
Date Event SP FS Total
24–27 December 2020 2020–21 Japan Championships 3
69.55
7
134.10
5
203.65
27–29 November 2020 2020 NHK Trophy 7
63.41
3
131.32
4
194.73
2018–19 season
Date Event SP FS Total
7–9 March 2019 2019 Winter Universiade 1
75.92
2
144.76
1
220.68
7–10 February 2019 2019 Four Continents Championships 8
65.15
2
141.97
3
207.12
20–24 December 2018 2018–19 Japan Championships 3
72.88
3
147.92
4
220.80
23–25 November 2018 2018 Internationaux de France 1
67.95
3
134.86
2
202.81
9–11 November 2018 2018 NHK Trophy 3
70.38
5
133.82
4
204.20
26–29 September 2018 2018 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 3
70.94
2
138.28
2
209.22
2017–18 season
Date Event SP FS Total
16–18 March 2018 2018 Coupe du Printemps 2
72.98
1
142.51
1
215.49
22–28 January 2018 2018 Four Continents Championships 3
69.84
2
140.73
2
210.57
21–24 December 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships 7
64.27
3
140.40
5
204.67
17–19 November 2017 2017 Internationaux de France 4
64.57
5
137.55
4
202.12
3–5 November 2017 2017 Cup of China 7
66.90
3
139.17
4
206.07
7 October 2017 2017 Japan Open - 2
147.83
2T
20–23 September 2017 2017 CS Autumn Classic 2
66.18
2
132.84
2
199.02
2016–17 season
Date Event SP FS Total
20–23 April 2017 2017 World Team Trophy 3
72.10
2
146.17
1T/2P
218.27
29 Mar. – 2 Apr. 2017 2017 World Championships 15
59.59
4
138.29
5
197.88
15–19 February 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 4
66.51
1
134.34
1
200.85
22–25 December 2016 2016–17 Japan Championships 5
65.91
2
132.26
3
198.17
18–20 November 2016 2016 Cup of China 3
68.48
4
122.44
4
190.92
21–23 October 2016 2016 Skate America 2
65.75
3
123.53
3
189.28
22–24 September 2016 2016 CS Nebelhorn Trophy 2
63.11
1
125.92
1
189.03

Junior level

Mihara at the 2015–16 JGP Final
2015–16 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
10–13 December 2015 2015–16 JGP Final Junior 6
56.01
6
110.24
6
166.25
21–23 November 2015 2015-16 Japan Junior Championships Junior 15
49.08
7
111.04
8
160.12
9–12 September 2015 2015 JGP Austria Junior 1
63.55
2
118.50
2
182.05
19–22 August 2015 2015 JGP Slovakia Junior 3
60.81
2
118.55
2
179.36
5–8 August 2015 2015 Asian Open Trophy Senior 1
53.92
1
105.08
1
159.00
2014–15 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
23–24 March 2015 2015 Gardena Spring Trophy Junior 1
52.67
1
113.89
1
166.56
26–28 December 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships Senior 13
53.23
9
105.58
9
158.81
22–24 November 2014 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships Junior 6
53.47
8
101.13
7
154.60
27–30 August 2014 2014 JGP Slovenia Junior 9
44.68
4
97.81
6
142.49
2013–14 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
6–9 March 2014 2014 International Challenge Cup Junior 9
38.01
1
99.05
4
137.06
20–23 December 2013 2013–14 Japan Championships Senior 20
45.51
8
106.99
12
152.50
22–24 November 2013 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships Junior 2
53.19
5
100.66
2
153.85
25–28 September 2013 2013 JGP Belarus Junior 9
45.94
4
95.88
5
141.82
8–11 August 2013 2013 Asian Open Trophy Junior 2
48.97
2
96.06
2
145.03
2012–13 season
Date Event Level SP FS Total
17–18 November 2012 2012-13 Japan Junior Championships Junior 11
47.53
8
92.61
8
140.14

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