Mirai Nagasu withdraws from world junior figure skating championship

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Sanity has finally prevailed among the many members of Mirai Nagasu’s team of advisors and coaches.

Nagasu, the Arcadia figure skater who won the U.S. women’s title last year at 14 but struggled this season while refusing to defer to a chronic foot injury, has withdrawn from the world junior championships later this month in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Nagasu has been bothered by a sore right foot since last season but insisted on skating despite the injury. That backfired when she finished fifth at this year’s U.S. championships and didn’t make the team for the senior-level world championships next month at Staples Center.

Caroline Zhang of Brea, third at the U.S. championships, remains scheduled to compete at the world junior event. So is Ashley Wagner. Nagasu’s spot will be taken by Katrina Hacker, who finished sixth at the U.S. championships.

‘After U.S. Championships, I met with my doctor and was advised to take some time off to heal,’ Nagasu said in a statement released by U.S. Figure Skating.

‘It was a very hard decision to make, but my doctor and I agreed that it was in my best interest.’

She had disregarded previous advice to rest her foot, but competing while injured last month in Cleveland must have driven home the point that she needs the rest more than she needs another competition this season. The extra healing time is likely to help as she prepares for next season, the Olympic season.

‘I haven’t been on the ice since U.S. Championships,’ Nagasu said. ‘It’s not bad, but I’m not going to step back on the ice until we’re confident that my pain is gone.’

-- Helene Elliott