Medalist (2025) s01e09 Episode Script

1
KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
I didn't decide
against the high-scoring jumps
because I don't think you can do them.
Huh?
If you can perfect the jumps
that you're already doing,
it'll get you more points
than something flashy.
Oh Really?
Make sure you take off
from the correct edge, one.
And two, think about the flow
into your landings.
If you can just focus in on those
two little things, that's extra points.
Just focus.
Yep. So get out there and nail it
like I know you can.
And you're gonna knock the socks
off all these guys.
Keep calm and skate on.
That face.
He really believes I can win. I can tell.
Number 24, Inori Yuitsuka
from Lux Higashiyama FSC.
- Knock 'em dead!
- Okay!
What did you Oh.
I'm going to do my absolute best!
Wait. What?
- Why did I fall?
- Inori!
Your set hasn't started. It's okay!
Just get in place quick!
Okay.
Well,
that took a few years off my life
I think that just about killed me.
What a huge burst of speed.
How did I do that?
I was focusing on my skates,
making sure I started out firm
Wait. That's the stuff
Coach Tsukasa's always telling me to do.
Her victory today is riding
on a perfect run.
No falls, no missteps, no mistakes.
Please recover.
You can do it.
WESTERN POWERHOUSES
First jump, single Axel.
Yes!
Good, an effortless landing.
Keep it up. Here comes the hard one.
Double Salchow!
- Perfect!
- I've got it now.
If I just put all my weight
on the edge I'm skating on,
I can go faster and faster.
It's really effective.
But
it's really exhausting!
I'm gliding smoother than usual, though,
so I gotta keep up.
Nice!
The right point of balance will maximize
your speed and your grace.
So find your center
and just keep practicing.
Before you know it, you'll be flying.
Of course.
Align your weight. Keep your core strong
"Get it right, and the ice and your blades
will do all the work for you."
I think I finally understand
what you were saying, Coach.
My skates are working with me.
They're making me stronger!
Those two double jumps
were her biggest challenges today.
And they were the best
she's ever done 'em.
Next, she'll tackle the step sequence,
which is a required program element
from here on out.
Not that I'm worried about it.
Our taiyaki method is gonna make this
a great new source of points for Inori.
Oh, no. She's tired.
It's probably muscle fatigue.
Please, hang in there.
My legs are like jelly.
I feel like I'm about to mess up.
But I don't want all my taiyaki practice
to go to waste!
How does Coach do it?
His hands were so beautiful.
It was mesmerizing, like magic.
But I bet I can do that, too.
Inori
Graceful skating has both fast
and slow movements.
And the slow ones take strength.
I may not have the muscles for that yet,
but I will one day!
For now,
I just gotta show them what I do have!
One more big push!
- Whoa!
- Is that a flying sit spin?
Come on, come on, come on!
Extend your arm way out,
arch your back as far as you can
For the tougher, elevated broken leg
that we worked so hard on!
That's my girl!
Oh!
It's over.
Huh?
Coach Tsukasa
Inori.
How you feeling? You okay?
Hold on.
Where are we going?
Is Inori hurt?
She'll be fine. You need to focus
on your own performance now.
Okay.
Inori Yuitsuka's score is
24.32.
She is currently in first place.
NURSE'S OFFICE
Looks like
you sprained your ankle.
I might recommend going to the hospital
for an X-ray, though, just in case.
Okay, thank you.
- Sorry, Inori.
- Hmm?
I think it's best if you skip
the award ceremony.
Okay.
I'll go get her things
and arrange for a taxi.
Um, Coach?
Is it okay if I stay long enough
to watch Ema's performance?
She goes last, and
I at least wanna know what place I got.
Yeah, you got it.
Do you hurt anywhere else
besides your leg?
Oh, no.
Mostly I'm just sore, but it's fine.
I noticed the pain kinda goes away
after I've warmed up.
I don't see a problem
with her staying longer to watch,
but it's possible that
she may have shin splints.
Um, Coach, what's a shin splint?
We can get into that later.
But it's almost time for Ema to skate.
Let's go talk to your mom
and find a good spot in the audience.
Ah
Hey. Mr. Sekoma!
Are you feeling all right, Inori?
Yep. Thank you for coming.
I'm happy to see you.
Number 32. Ema Yamato
- from Rengecha FSC.
- Wow, we're right on time.
You got this, Ema. Debut the new you,
and let's win this thing.
You want to introduce her
to a different club? Seriously?
She's gonna hear that as, "You're
not good enough to stay here with us."
Rengecha FSC
picks up 20 new skaters a year.
And they all whip past level one.
But Ema's been in Prelim how long, now?
I'm only thinking
about what's best for her.
- Howdy!
- Oh
How ya doing?
Is that leg still bugging ya?
It's okay.
There's something
I wanted to ask you about.
Hmm?
What's with this?
Practice starts in ten minutes.
You should eat up.
Nah.
Huh?
When I eat a lot, I get taller.
And it makes my legs hurt.
So if eating is gonna keep me
from skating,
then I'll stop.
Ema
I
What's the matter?
You're being awful silly.
We're gonna make you a brilliant skater no
matter how tall you might get, you hear?
So you don't gotta go
and do something dumb like that.
Now get this down, and let's keep at it.
She's been through so much.
But with how far she's come,
she can take it easy and win no problem.
That Lutz was ridiculous!
Yeah, she didn't even look like
she was trying!
A double Lutz
A Lutz takes off from the right outer edge
and twists leftward,
which is tough to pull off
and even harder to land.
Yet she made it look so simple.
They'll never know how much blood,
sweat, and tears went into this.
LEVEL ONE - ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
FAIL
This was just a bad day
for growing pains, huh?
I really hate
how bad I am at this right now.
But it's fine. I'm gonna keep doing it.
And I'll never hate skating.
Ema,
I thought you were like me because
we took the level one test together.
But you're not. You're so much better.
Your moves, your jumps
It's impossible to do
what you do overnight.
You mastered a million things,
and then put them all together.
Stuff I'm just now learning,
you've been able to do for a long time.
With as much as I've practiced,
all the work I've done,
even the hard jumps are nothing special
to me.
A double flip/double toe loop combo!
Those are the highest difficulty jumps
level one will allow this year.
Take that pain, the experience,
the hurt,
and leave it all out there on the ice.
Not being able to practice,
getting left behind by other skaters,
other coaches,
I'll put everything into this performance.
A flying camel spin!
Yeah!
- Never mind.
- Hmm?
I take back what I said
about level one sucking.
There weren't no triples in there,
but you can't deny that girl's skill.
Level don't matter skating like that.
Hmm.
You know,
I can't stand you when you act all mature.
That was amazing.
Ema Yamato's score is
25.57.
She is currently in first place.
You were wonderful.
Thank you.
CHANGING ROOM
One more, look.
- Right at the camera, please.
- This rules!
This sucks!
I can't believe
I didn't even make the podium!
Big fish left the small pond.
I'd like to see you try!
- Ah, Miss Ritsuki.
- Huh?
These young ladies are going
to be your new clubmates soon.
Meet Seira Shishido and Miihi Kurosawa.
Hey! Why's your face look
so familiar to me?
'Cause you hit her face with your face.
They've decided to commit
to figure skating over speed skating.
So they'll be transferring
from Hiroshima next month.
Wanna be friends with me?
I need your name and favorite color.
And favorite dinosaur if you got one!
Nice to meet you.
No!
KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
The Women's Novice B
Free Skating Competition
will begin shortly.
Suzu, don't get carried away out there.
Remember that this is our last practice
match before nationals.
Focus on the details.
Don't you worry none!
I told you this would be the year that
I finally surpass Hikaru as Novice Queen,
didn't I?
Why would I let my guard down now?
I've got this, Coach.
Athletes in group one,
your practice period starts now.
You have six minutes on the ice.
There we go!
Thank you very much for that.
- Inori.
- Huh?
Starting tomorrow,
I want you to take a break.
No practice till the fall.
What? Take a break?
But summer vacation is the only time
I get to practice all day.
Why are we stopping now?
Do you remember what the nurse said
this afternoon?
That you could have shin splints?
Oh, yeah. What about them?
Shin splints are a result
of overusing the muscle.
Everything in there is strained
and swollen right now.
If we ignore that,
it could lead to a stress fracture.
A fracture
The pain you've been feeling
in your other leg?
That could be an early symptom
of an issue.
And if you wind up with a stress fracture,
you'll be out of practice for months.
We cannot let that happen.
So, a break is good
- Inori.
- Yeah?
Forgive me.
I learned an important lesson today
about what I'm lacking as a coach.
In the future, I'll be focusing more about
how to prevent accidents and injuries.
Yeah, I think this competition taught me
a lot as well.
I'm not the only one who dreams
of being a great figure skater.
Not at all.
There are lots of kids who love skating.
And they're working hard, too.
I'm pushing myself to the limit
- to keep up with everyone.
- Okay! Huddle up tight!
And so are they.
- Now say cheese!
- And there are some
who couldn't practice how they wanted,
but kept it up anyway.
I'm never gonna surpass the skaters
who have built up all their skills
from an early age.
I started later than normal, and
it's not like I can get that time back.
There's just gonna be a gap there,
and that's okay.
But
I'll work through it.
And I'll never use it as a reason to quit.
Some things are just out of my control,
so I won't panic
or get upset over them anymore.
I'll keep believing that, late or not,
I can win my next fight exactly as I am.
You sure
you wanna do this?
Yes. I want to believe and I want to try.
Good.
'Cause I believe in you, too.
Your sister said
she can come pick us up at the station.
Oh, that's good.
In that case,
we gotta get ready to show off your medal.
Really? Right now?
The bullet train
award ceremony will now begin!
Inori Yuitsuka, LHFSC.
Present.
I present you with this silver medal!
The first medal of many.
Yeah.
You should be very proud of that silver.
But we'll take the gold next time.
What do you say?
Yes!
FIVE DAYS LATER
UJI NO MACHI STATION
What? Are you for real?
You came all the way to Kyoto
to apologize?
Yes. I also want to express my gratitude
- What is that guy's deal?
- and report to you.
Did you say "report to me"?
Just take them!
FROGGYCOOKIE
So, I talked to Inori. And we decided
to abstain from winter meets.
We're just going to focus on progressing
through the Badge Tests for now.
I see. That's your report?
It is.
Oh and by the way,
thank you for sharing Ema's story with me.
It's filled me with determination.
And that's the gratitude.
Well, then,
this box of snacks ain't gonna cut it.
Tell ya what will, though,
if you and Inori's progress a year
from now blows my doors off.
Think y'all can do that for me?
Yes, sir.
That's the plan. We'll spend this year
finding our new normal.
And the next time I see you,
it'll be at the All-Japans.
Good!
A triple Axel!
Beautifully done.
This is the second victory
for Hikaru Kamisaki.
Hikaru
CERTIFICATE OF HONOR
Piece of shit.