Kanako Murakami of Japan celebrates in the kiss and cry with her coach Machiko Yamada of Japan after her preformance in the Ladies Free Skate during Skate America at Rose Garden Arena on November 14, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Already, Kanako Murakami of Japan is being followed by throngs of Japanese reporters after the 16-year-old made her debut on the senior circuit this year. She was undefeated last year when she won the world junior championships and the Junior Grand Prix Final, and skates with a passionate abandon and zest. She finished third at the NHK Trophy in Japan, and Sunday at Skate America, won the gold medal over U.S. champion Rachel Flatt.
Murakami is coached by Machiko Yamada, the former coach of Midori Ito, the trailblazer in women's figure skating in Japan.
A new young Chinese team, Sui Wenjing and Han Cong, finished third in the pair event at Skate America with 170.07 points, but they were competing for the first time at the senior level after winning the world junior championships last season.
Not only did the Chinese team attempt a quadruple Salchow throw (landing it on two feet), but they showed a flair for presentation in their Charlie Chaplin routine. Sui is only 15 years old, Han 18.
The tiny Sui showed grit in attempting the quad throw, after falling on it during practice and hitting her head earlier in the week.