24 Facts About Kanako Murakami

Kanako Murakami is a Japanese retired figure skater.

Kanako Murakami won the bronze medal at her first event in Madrid, Spain.

However, as Japan had earned only two berths to the 2009 World Junior Championships, Kanako Murakami did not qualify.

Kanako Murakami was assigned to compete at the 2010 World Junior Championships, where she won the title after placing second in the short program and first in the free skating.

Kanako Murakami placed second in the free skate behind Rachael Flatt and won the gold medal.

Kanako Murakami placed third in the short program and second in the free skate on her way to the bronze medal.

Kanako Murakami earned her second consecutive bronze medal at the 2011 Japan Championships.

Kanako Murakami placed fourth at the 2012 Four Continents Championships and fifth at the 2012 World Championships.

Kanako Murakami was part of the ladies' team representing Japan at the 2012 ISU World Team Trophy.

Kanako Murakami placed 3rd in the short program but 8th in the free skating and finished 6th overall.

Kanako Murakami started her season with bronze at the 2012 Skate Canada International and finished 4th at her next event, the 2012 Cup of Russia.

Kanako Murakami won the bronze medal in her third appearance at the 2013 Four Continents Championships with fellow Japanese medalists Mao Asada and Akiko Suzuki taking the gold and silver medal respectively.

Kanako Murakami finished 4th at the 2013 World Championships setting a personal best score of 189.73 points.

Kanako Murakami finished 4th at her first Grand Prix event of the season, the 2013 Cup of China, and then 7th at the 2013 Rostelecom Cup.

Kanako Murakami won the 2014 Four Continents Championships setting a new personal best overall score of 196.91 points, as well as a personal best in the free skating with 132.18 points.

At her Olympic debut in Sochi, Russia, Kanako Murakami placed 15th in the short program, 12th in the free skating, and placed 12th overall.

Kanako Murakami started off her season by competing at Japan Open, where she placed 4th in the ladies' event and Team Japan finished 3rd overall.

Kanako Murakami then won a medal on the Grand Prix series, taking bronze at the 2014 Cup of China after placing third in both segments.

Kanako Murakami was selected to compete at the 2015 World Championships due to her placements in her Grand Prix events.

Kanako Murakami then competed at 2015 World Team Trophy where she finished 6th and Team Japan placed third overall.

Kanako Murakami began her season on the Challenger Series, placing 7th at the US Classic.

Kanako Murakami placed 6th at the Japanese Championships and 7th at the 2016 Four Continents.

Kanako Murakami performed an exhibition program as a special guest at the 2017 World Team Trophy and announced her retirement.

Kanako Murakami is sponsored by Adidas Japan, All Nippon Airways, Nichirei, Brother Industries, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.