Mai Mihara is a Universiade champion and former Four Continents Champion. She has made the podium at 4CC three times, and in six appearances at Grand Prix events has never finished worse than fourth.
And yet, throughout all of that, it's hard to make the argument that she has ever been one of Japan's top three female skaters. She has a single bronze in Nationals, and made the World Championships as an alternate, but has never really had a claim to being one of Japan's "elite" skaters.
I can't even think of a Russian skater that has accomplished so much and never even had a cup of coffee as being considered one of their countries best skaters.
Still have faith that Mai will one day break free and no longer be the answer to such a trivia question.
And yet, throughout all of that, it's hard to make the argument that she has ever been one of Japan's top three female skaters. She has a single bronze in Nationals, and made the World Championships as an alternate, but has never really had a claim to being one of Japan's "elite" skaters.
I can't even think of a Russian skater that has accomplished so much and never even had a cup of coffee as being considered one of their countries best skaters.
Still have faith that Mai will one day break free and no longer be the answer to such a trivia question.