Minoru Sano
Born (1955-06-03) June 3, 1955 (age 68)
Isawa, Yamanashi, Japan
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan
Retired1977
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Men's figure skating
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1977 Tokyo Men's singles

Minoru Sano (佐野 稔, Sano Minoru) (born June 3, 1955)[1] is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. He is the 1977 World bronze medalist and a five-time Japanese national champion (1972–76).[2]

Career

Sano became the Japanese national champion for the first time in the 1972–73 season. In 1973 and 1974, he stood on the podium at the Skate Canada International and Prize of Moscow News. He represented Japan at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria and finished ninth. The next season, he won his fifth consecutive national title and went on to win bronze at the 1977 World Championships in Tokyo. It was the first time that a Japanese representative stood on the world podium in any figure skating discipline. Japan would not win another world medal in men's singles until 2002 (bronze for Takeshi Honda).[3]

Sano subsequently retired from competition and turned professional. In 1978, he founded "Viva! Ice World" (renamed "Prince Ice World" in 1988). It was the first ice show in Japan.[4] He appeared on many television shows as an actor, TV presenter, or a guest.[5] He also released pop singles. He helped to popularize figure skating in Japan.

Sano is currently a TV commentator and a figure skating instructor.[6] His former students include Shizuka Arakawa and Yamato Tamura.

Results

International
Event 70–71 71–72 72–73 73–74 74–75 75–76 76–77
Olympics 9th
Worlds 14th 8th 10th 7th 3rd
Skate Canada 3rd 2nd
Moscow News 3rd
National
Japan Champ. 3rd 2nd 1st 1st 1st 1st 1st

References

  1. ^ "Minoru Sano". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17.
  2. ^ "Japan Figure Skating Championship History". Skating Japan. Archived from the original on 2006-09-09.
  3. ^ Odeven, Ed (March 23, 2007). "Joubert claims gold; Takahashi skates to silver at worlds". The Japan Times.
  4. ^ History of Prince Ice World Archived 2010-04-15 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  5. ^ "Munesawagu Ichigo tachi (Panic Of Chicks)", Tokyo Broadcasting System, 1983-1984 Archived 2009-12-09 at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
  6. ^ "Member list". Japan Figure Skating Instructor Association.


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