Hettrick: Nagasu show goes on

Hundreds and maybe thousands of Arcadians proudly watched our local figure skater, 16-year-old Mirai Nagasu perform beautifully and nearly flawlessly in her first Winter Olympics in Vancouver last week.

Her fans ranged from students and teachers at Arcadia High School to friends and loyal patrons of her parent’s Kiyosuzu restaurant on Baldwin Avenue, to Arcadians who packed Matt Denny’s Ale House and restaurant on both nights of her performance to share the experience and cheering with others.

Mirai let no one down, most importantly herself. She skated with grace, confidence, and elegance, jumping all the way from 6th after the short program to 4th place, three spots ahead of U.S. national champion Rachel Flatt and ahead of two of the three more highly-favored and experienced skaters from Japan. Former gold medal skater-turned-announcer/analyst Scott Hamilton said that for Mirai, her future is now, declaring that she represents the best hope for American ladies figure skating for many years to come.
Through it all it was terrific to see that she maintained her charming sense of humor and her independent spirit.

Matt Denny’s Ale House Restaurant

Best of all, Mirai appeared to thoroughly enjoy the experience (based on her Twitter and Facebook entries and her appearances on programs such as The Today Show and Access Hollywood).

But the hectic pace continues for Mirai now. The 2010 World Figure Skating Championships begin in less than three weeks in Turin, Italy, from March 20-29.

And then she will be one of the featured performers in the Smucker’s Stars on Ice exhibition tour from April 1 – May 30. Arcadians will have two chances to see her in that program at Staples Center downtown L.A. on Thursday, May 20 and at Honda Center in Anaheim on Friday, May 21.

Wherever her new road takes her and whether she notches more wins in her sport, here’s hoping she continues to hold on to her winning personality.

– By Scott Hettrick