Career
Suzuki won the bronze medal at the 2001–2002 Junior Grand Prix Final. After having a successful junior career, Suzuki was hampered by her struggles with an eating disorder which began at age 18 when she left home for university. Her weight having fallen to 32 kg, she was unable to jump and missed the entire 2003–2004 season. It took her a year to gain back the weight she had lost. Suzuki returned to competitive skating in the 2004–2005 season after being inspired by Shizuka Arakawa's victory at the 2004 World Championships.
Suzuki began working with coach Hiroshi Nagakubo in the early 2000s.
She had a breakthrough in 2007–2008, winning several events, and achieving her highest finish at Japanese nationals since 2002. She consequently received her first senior Grand Prix assignment in 2008-9, and won the silver medal at the 2008 NHK Trophy. That same season, she also won the Finlandia Trophy and finished 8th at the 2009 Four Continents Championships.
Read more about this topic: Akiko Suzuki
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