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Aiming for the world’s top 10 – National elite athlete and full time student, Moemi Kikuchi
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Aiming for the world’s top 10 – National elite athlete and full time student, Moemi Kikuchi

Mon, Apr 27, 2015
Aiming for the world’s top 10 – National elite athlete and full time student, Moemi Kikuchi
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Dedicating all of my energy towards my studies and skating

1361_ぴーぷる(菊池萌水さん)カット差し替え

 Moemi Kikuchi is a short track speed skater. Despite her frequent overseas trips and daily training as a national elite athlete, she spares no effort in her studies, seminar, and classes which are held five days a week from first to fourth period. “Since I am a student of Waseda, one of Japan’s leading universities, I want to do my best academically as well. I want to do everything that time and my environment permits.”

However, Moemi says it is difficult to juggle athletics and studies, commenting “hardships make up 90% of skating.” What motivates her to continue skating despite such circumstances is encouragement from family and those close to her. “For a long time, skating was something I felt obliged to do. However, I realized that it is thanks to the support from those around me that I am able to continue skating. For this reason, I want to repay them by doing my best, which means winning races.” Moemi has a clear vision for the future. “I have set my sights high. My goal is to win a medal in the 2018 Pyeong Chang Winter Olympics. To accomplish this, I want to become a top 10 skater in the world short track ranking within a year. I believe the best way to accomplish a goal is to utilize one’s strengths. I want to develop my strengths to where I cannot lose to anyone.”

Moemi is currently a fourth year student at the School of Social Sciences.

Moemi Kikuchi

Originally from Nagano, Moemi Kikuchi graduated from Nagano Prefectural Nozawa-kita High School. She grew up in a skating family, with four of the five daughters being successful skaters. Her achievements include taking gold in the Women’s 1,000 m in the All Japan Single Distances Short Track Skating Championship and being chosen as a member of Japan’s national short track team for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. She is a member of the Waseda University Skate Club. She not only goes running before going to university but also does training after classes. With such a busy schedule, Moemi finds the best way for her to take a break is to have her hair done by one of her sisters who is a hairdresser.


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