Rika Hongo

Rika Hongo
Hongo in 2016
Personal information
Native name 本郷 理華
Country represented Japan
Born (1996-09-06) September 6, 1996
Sendai, Japan
Home town Nagoya
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 1⁄2 in)
Coach Hiroshi Nagakubo, Yoriko Naruse, Miho Kawaume
Choreographer Shae-Lynn Bourne
Former choreographer Akiko Suzuki, Kenji Miyamoto, Miho Kawaume, Yuko Hongo
Skating club Howa Sports Land Skating Club
Training locations Nagoya
Began skating 2001
ISU personal best scores
Combined total 199.15
2016 Worlds
Short program 69.89
2016 Worlds
Free skate 129.97
2015 Cup of China
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Figure skating: Ladies' singles
Four Continents Championships
2015 SeoulLadies' singles
2016 TaipeiLadies' singles

Rika Hongo (Japanese: 本郷理華, born September 6, 1996) is a Japanese figure skater. She is a two-time (2015–16) Four Continents bronze medalist, 2014 Rostelecom Cup champion, 2015 Finlandia Trophy champion, and 2014–15 Japanese national silver medalist.

Personal life

Rika Hongo was born on September 6, 1996 in Sendai, Japan.[1] Her mother, Yuko, is a former figure skater.[2] Her father is from the United Kingdom.[3] In 2015, Hongo attended Chukyo University.[4]

Career

Early years

Hongo began skating in 2001.[1] She moved to Nagoya at age nine to train under coach Hiroshi Nagakubo.[5] Shizuka Arakawa was named as an influence in a 2006 report.[5]

2012–2013 season

Hongo debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in the 2012–13 season. She won a silver medal in Courchevel, France and placed fifth in Croatia. Along with Satoko Miyahara, she was selected to represent Japan at the 2013 World Junior Championships in Milan, Italy. Hongo placed seventh in the short program, tenth in the free skate, and finished ninth overall.

2013–2014 season

Hongo started the 2013–14 season with a fourth-place finish at JGP Mexico and then won a bronze medal at JGP Belarus. At the 2014 World Junior Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, she placed eleventh in the short program, seventh in the free skate, and eighth overall. Making her senior international debut, Hongo won gold at the 2014 Triglav Trophy, her final event of the season.

2014–2015 season

Hongo began the 2014–15 season with gold at the Asian Open and then bronze at the 2014 Finlandia Trophy, an ISU Challenger Series event. Making her senior Grand Prix debut, she finished fifth at the 2014 Skate Canada International after placing fifth in the short program and free skate. At her second Grand Prix event, the 2014 Rostelecom Cup, Hongo won the gold medal ahead of Russia's Anna Pogorilaya by 4.57 points after placing second in the short program and winning the free skate.[6] Hongo was first alternate to the Grand Prix Final[7] and was later called on to compete after qualifier Gracie Gold withdrew with a foot injury. She finished sixth overall after placing fifth in the short and free programs.

At the Japan Championships, Hongo won the short program and placed second in the free skate, winning the silver medal behind Satoko Miyahara and earning her first medal at Japanese Nationals. At the 2015 Four Continents, she placed third in the short and long programs, capturing the bronze medal behind gold medalist Polina Edmunds and silver medalist Miyahara.

Hongo made her senior worlds debut at the 2015 World Championships in Shanghai, where she earned personal bests in all segments of the competition. She finished sixth overall after placing fifth in both segments.

2015–2016 season

Hongo began her season by winning both segments in a domestic competition called the Summer Cup, held in Shiga prefecture, Japan. Two months later, she outscored Yulia Lipnitskaya by 15.12 points to win gold at a Challenger Series event, the 2015 CS Finlandia Trophy, where she obtained a personal best total score of 187.45 points. Hongo then won silver at 2015 Cup of China, but placed fifth at 2015 Rostelecom Cup, and as a result, did not qualify for the Grand Prix Final.[8] She placed 4th at the Japan Championships.

Ranked 4th in the short and 5th in the free, Hongo came away with the bronze medal at the 2016 Four Continents in Taipei, behind Satoko Miyahara and Mirai Nagasu. She finished 8th at the 2016 World Championships in Boston.

2016–2017 season

Hongo finished 4th at the 2016 CS Autumn Classic International and 6th at her first GP event of the season, 2016 Skate Canada International. She placed 5th at both of her December competitions, the 2016 Cup of China and the Japan Figure Skating Championships.

Hongo replaced the injured Satoko Miyahara at the 2017 Four Continents Championships, finishing 10th.[9]

2017–2018 season

Hongo began her season with a silver medal at the 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy.

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2017–2018
[10]
2016–2017
[1]
  • Carmina Burana
    by Carl Orff
    choreo. by Shae-Lynn Bourne
    2015–2016
    [12][13][14]
    • Reel Around The Sun
      by Bill Whelan
      choreo. by Kenji Miyamoto
    2014–2015
    [15]
    2013–2014
    [16]
    2012–2013
    [17]

    Competitive highlights

    GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

    International[18]
    Event 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17 17–18 18–19
    Worlds6th8th16th
    Four Continents3rd3rd10th
    GP Final6th
    GP Cup of China2nd5th
    GP Rostelecom Cup1st5th
    GP Skate Canada5th6th6th
    GP NHK Trophy7th
    GP Finland TBD
    CS Autumn Classic4th
    CS Finlandia3rd1st16th
    CS Ondrej Nepela2nd
    Asian Games4th
    Asian Open1st
    Int. Challenge Cup2nd
    Coupe du Printemps1st
    Triglav Trophy1st
    International: Junior[18]
    Junior Worlds9th8th
    JGP Belarus3rd
    JGP Croatia5th
    JGP France2nd
    JGP Mexico4th
    National[19]
    Japanese Champ.5th6th2nd4th5th6th
    Japan Junior3rd1st
    Team events
    Team Challenge
    Cup    		3rd T
    7th P
    TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
    T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

    Detailed results

    Senior level

    Hongo at the 2014–15 Grand Prix Final

    Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.

    2017–18 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    22–25 February 2018 2018 Challenge Cup 2
    62.07    		 3
    106.72    		 2
    168.79
    21–24 December 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships 3
    70.48    		 8
    127.14    		 6
    197.62
    10–12 November 2017 2017 NHK Trophy 4
    65.83    		 7
    122.00    		 7
    187.83
    27–29 October 2017 2017 Skate Canada 6
    61.60    		 6
    114.74    		 6
    176.34
    21–23 September 2017 2017 CS Ondrej Nepela Trophy 2
    66.49    		 2
    123.49    		 2
    189.98
    2016–17 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    29 March – 2 April 2017 2017 World Championships 12
    62.55    		 18
    107.28    		 16
    169.83
    10–12 March 2017 2017 Coupe du Printemps 1
    59.27    		 1
    103.29    		 1
    162.56
    23–26 February 2017 2017 Asian Winter Games 2
    60.98    		 4
    100.39    		 4
    161.37
    15–19 February 2017 2017 Four Continents Championships 9
    59.16    		 13
    108.26    		 10
    167.42
    22–25 December 2016 2016–17 Japan Championships 2
    69.20    		 6
    125.08    		 5
    194.28
    18–20 November 2016 2016 Grand Prix Cup of China 6
    63.63    		 6
    118.12    		 5
    181.75
    28–30 October 2016 2016 Grand Prix Skate Canada 4
    65.75    		 8
    105.44    		 6
    171.19
    29 September – 1 October 2016 2016 CS Autumn Classic International 4
    60.33    		 4
    110.01    		 4
    170.34
    2015–16 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    28 March – 3 April 2016 2016 World Championships 7
    69.89    		 8
    129.26    		 8
    199.15
    16–21 February 2016 2016 Four Continents Championships 4
    64.27    		 5
    117.51    		 3
    181.78
    24–27 December 2015 2015–16 Japan Championships 2
    68.39    		 4
    124.89    		 4
    193.28
    20–22 November 2015 2015 Grand Prix Cup of Russia 6
    63.45    		 5
    115.67    		 5
    179.12
    6–8 November 2015 2015 Grand Prix Cup of China 2
    65.79    		 1
    129.97    		 2
    195.76
    9–11 October 2015 2015 CS Finlandia Trophy 1
    65.75    		 1
    121.70    		 1
    187.45
    2014–15 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    23–29 March 2015 2015 World Championships 5
    62.17    		 5
    122.41    		 6
    184.58
    15–19 February 2015 2015 Four Continents Championships 3
    61.28    		 3
    116.16    		 3
    177.44
    26–28 December 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships 1
    66.70    		 2
    121.93    		 2
    188.63
    11–14 December 2014 2014–15 Grand Prix Final 5
    61.10    		 5
    115.03    		 6
    176.13
    14–16 November 2014 2014 Grand Prix Cup of Russia 2
    59.85    		 1
    118.15    		 1
    178.00
    31 October – 2 November 2014 2014 Grand Prix Skate Canada 5
    59.10    		 5
    112.37    		 5
    171.47
    9–12 October 2014 2014 CS Finlandia Trophy 3
    52.11    		 3
    101.60    		 3
    153.71
    7–10 August 2014 2014 Asian Trophy 1
    57.91    		 2
    110.98    		 1
    168.89

    Junior level

    2013–14 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    2–6 April 2014 2014 Triglav Trophy Senior 1
    57.71    		 1
    95.61    		 1
    153.32
    10–16 March 2014 2014 World Junior Championships Junior 11
    51.47    		 7
    106.41    		 8
    157.88
    20–23 December 2013 2013–14 Japan Championships Senior 7
    59.25    		 6
    117.06    		 6
    176.31
    22–24 December 2013 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships Junior 3
    52.84    		 1
    110.28    		 1
    162.12
    25–28 September 2013 2013 Junior Grand Prix Belarus Junior 5
    50.10    		 5
    94.87    		 3
    144.97
    4–7 September 2013 2013 Junior Grand Prix Mexico Junior 6
    48.09    		 3
    99.48    		 4
    147.57
    2012–13 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    25 February – 3 March 2013 2013 World Junior Championships Junior 7
    52.15    		 10
    90.47    		 9
    142.62
    20–24 December 2012 2012–13 Japan Championships Senior 6
    56.61    		 4
    115.82    		 5
    172.43
    17–18 November 2012 2012–13 Japan Junior Championships Junior 3
    55.47    		 3
    103.87    		 3
    159.34
    22–25 October 2012 2012 JGP France Junior 3
    53.16    		 2
    96.22    		 2
    149.38
    3–6 October 2012 2012 JGP Croatia Junior 6
    45.93    		 4
    95.04    		 5
    140.97
    2010–11 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    November 26–28, 2010 2010–11 Japan Junior Championships Junior

    		19

    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Rika HONGO: 2016/2017". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017.
    2. ↑ "19歳の新星が主役の座を狙う！浅田真央を追いかける、絶好調・本郷理華にも注目！". GUTSPOSE. 2015-11-07.
    3. ↑ "2位の18歳、本郷 「まだ足りない」 ジャンプ回転不足". 産経新聞. 2014-12-28.
    4. ↑ "本郷理華選手が優勝、日野龍樹選手は6位入賞　フィンランドで行われたフィンランディア杯". 中京大学. 2015-10-15.
    5. 1 2 ""荒川静香のリンク"　金夢見る少女がピンチ". テレビ朝日. 2006-03-24.
    6. ↑ http://www.isuresults.com/results/gprus2014/CAT002RS.HTM
    7. ↑ Kondakova, Anna (December 1, 2014). "Rika Hongo 'grateful' for opportunities". Golden Skate.
    8. ↑ Xiong, Wei (November 24, 2015). "Rika Hongo: 'Not where I want to be yet'". Golden Skate.
    9. ↑
    10. ↑ "Rika HONGO: 2017/2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017.
    11. ↑ Ge, Misha (May 27, 2017). "Not sure how many times i said "Again ! Repeat !" for those dancing parts, maybe 20 times or more, but she done a good job on working hard on them. The music she requested me, at first i though was a big challenge for her, but im very glad and satisfied for her hard work to take this challenge and to see her spirit of improving in it. #RikaHongo #Soon #DreamsOnIce" (Instagram).
    12. ↑ "Rika HONGO: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016.
    13. ↑ Xiong, Wei (June 12, 2015). "Japanese stars debut programs at 'Dreams on Ice'". IceNetwork.
    14. ↑ Xiong, Wei (June 26, 2015). "Rising stars of Asia: Sky's the limit for 'lucky' Hongo". IceNetwork.
    15. ↑ "Rika HONGO: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on May 21, 2015.
    16. ↑ "Rika HONGO: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 24, 2014.
    17. ↑ "Rika HONGO: 2012/2013". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on December 26, 2012.
    18. 1 2 "Competition Results: Rika HONGO". International Skating Union.
    19. ↑ "本郷 理華/HONGO Rika" (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.