GOLDEN DEBUT FOR AMI NAKAI IN ANGERS
And not only Ami Nakai won this year’s edition of Grand Prix de France, the first senior GP event of her career, but in the process she surpassed teammate and three-time World champion Kaori Sakamoto, in her last competitive season.
We’ll say it again: watching the competition in Angers, we felt as if Kaori Sakamoto, the star, the veteran, were handing this imaginary torch to Ami Nakai, the newbie, the newcomer – although there’s nothing immature or juniorish in her skating.
On the contrary: Ami Nakai’s skating is a thing of beauty.
Just watch.
Reaction to the scores? Amazement from Ami and her coach. Reaction to her skate? Amazement from us all.
Don’t You Worry ’bout a Thing, the song says – and why would she? Ami Nakai struck gold in her senior debut / photo from the exhibition in Angers.
[Story by Florentina Tone
Photos by Alberto Ponti / Bergamo and Angers]