Crystal Skate

Saitama, Japan, December 2013: A beautiful lady in a flowery dress lands a Triple Lutz in the roar of the crowd. This is her home country and she is loved here, but she's about to be even more famous and become everyone's sweetheart. The Lutz is only the first jump out of a perfect series that will eventually bring her the prize she's been looking for, for the last 14 years: the National title. Skating on music by Bill Whelan. Photograph: Jasper Juinen /Getti Images North America Akiko Suzuki became known worldwide years before being crowned Japan's national champion. She made her debut on a major international stage at the 2009 Cup of China, which she won. Immediately striking us as artistically brilliant, she skated the short on Andalucia  and Fire Dance  by Bill Whelan. She then went on to showcase her versatility by telling the story of modern-day Romeo and Juliet with West Side Story . This was the programme that would show us just how good she was at expre

After each Olympic season, there is a handful of skaters who decide to withdraw from competitive life. As natural as the process is, for most athletes' careers in sport are limited, retirements always bring nostalgia and even tears with them. And yet, they are also a chance to look back on the amazing journeys some of our favourite skaters have had. BRIAN JOUBERT Budapest Sports Arena, February 2004: A 19 year-old boy wearing a black latex costume is waiting for his music to start. You don't need to hear it to know what his programme is going to be about - the green numbers dripping down from his left shoulder give it away. This is the story of The Matrix , a remarkable piece of cinema, whose last chapter was released less than four months ago. What most people, including the skater himself, don't know is that in just five minutes, he'll make history and become a superstar. Skating in Budapest, 2004. Photograph: Getty Images That night in Budapest, Brian Joube