The latest anime sensation, "Medalist" (メダリスト), has been captivating audiences this season with its rare dive into the world of figure skating. Praised by many since its debut, even renowned skater Yuzuru Hanyu gave it a glowing endorsement and highly recommended it.
But while figure skating is undeniably beautiful, it's also a massive financial burden for parents hoping to get their kids involved. Recently, a Japanese mom shared her heartbreaking story on X about having to pull her daughter out of figure skating due to the overwhelming costs. Her poignant post quickly went viral.
The mom, who posted her experience, explained that her daughter used to train in figure skating for about three years. Despite starting a bit later, her daughter had been dancing since age three and possessed incredible athletic prowess, passing every figure skating level exam on her first try. Even in the more junior categories, she competed twice and snagged first place both times. However, the financial strain and pressure of the sport became too much to bear. "Ultimately, I couldn't keep up," she wrote. "My mental state completely collapsed, and I had no choice but to make her quit."
Later, she bought the complete "Medalist" manga series for her now 18-year-old daughter, but she couldn't even get past the first few pages herself. "It was just too painful to read," she confessed. "I'll probably carry this guilt towards my daughter for the rest of my life. Even though I always felt bad, that world was simply beyond what we could afford..."
Indeed, "figure skating" is widely considered one of the most expensive extracurricular activities due to the specialized training environment it requires. Even beginner lessons are said to cost between 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month. For serious professional training, annual fees can easily exceed 3 million yen.
If a skater aims for international competitions, factoring in costume costs and various other expenses, the total outlay could even surpass 10 million yen. On top of that, parents are responsible for early morning training commutes, trips to and from the rink, and managing daily schedules. It's not just a huge financial commitment but also demands an immense amount of time and energy. Essentially, athletes who manage to stick with the sport often require substantial financial backing to continue.
Many netizens who saw the post understood the bitter truth. They pointed out that athletes like Yuzuru Hanyu and Shizuka Arakawa are products of immense financial investment and support.
For instance, Shizuka Arakawa's father was a civil servant, and while their income was just enough to get by, her mother still had to stay up late making her performance costumes. It's incredibly challenging for both parents to be so deeply involved, and countless families have had to give up.
In fact, the "Medalist" storyline also delves into this very issue, portraying the financial realities with stark accuracy. It's a fact that most medalists come from affluent backgrounds. In the manga, Inori Yuzuki's coach, Tsukasa Akeuraji, is depicted as a genius who started late due to financial constraints.
Reading about the moms in the manga gathering the night before to make costumes, or renting ice rinks for late-night and early-morning practices, truly highlights the heavy burden on parents.
Many other netizens chimed in, noting that this reality isn't unique to figure skating; it applies to various sports like baseball, soccer, volleyball, ballet, and even gymnastics. To become an elite athlete in any of these fields demands significant time and money. Many parents intentionally steer their children away from certain extracurriculars, knowing full well these activities would drain their finances, time, and mental energy – a difficult but often necessary choice.
Ultimately, this reflects a common struggle for parents: supporting a child's passion requires immense dedication and financial investment, with no guarantee of return. Sometimes, simply sustaining that support becomes an insurmountable challenge.
via： togetter