Kumiko Koiwai
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| Kumiko Koiwai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | June 27, 1975 Ōbu, Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Figure skating career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Retired | 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Kumiko Koiwai (小岩井 久美子, Koiwai Kumiko; born June 27, 1975) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. She is the 1993 World Junior champion,[1] 1992 NHK Trophy silver medalist, 1997 Winter Universiade champion, and a three-time Japan national bronze medalist.
Koiwai finished 8th at the 1992 World Junior Championships in Hull, Quebec, Canada. At the 1993 Junior Worlds in Seoul, she placed first in both segments and was awarded the gold medal ahead of Lisa Ervin and Tanja Szewczenko.
Coached by Machiko Yamada, who had trained Midori Ito, Koiwai was routinely landing the triple Axel jump by 1994. However, she faced several chronic injuries of her right foot, which severely impeded her efforts.
In 1995, she made her only appearance at the senior World Championships, finishing 16th. In 1997, she won gold at the Winter Universiade and then retired from competition.
Later life
Koiwai graduated from Tokai Women's College near her hometown, Nagoya. She now works as a programming director for Tōkai Television in Japan.
