Honda Takeshi

Place: Kōriyama

Born: 1981

Biography:

Takeshi Honda is a former Japanese competitive figure skater. He was born on March 23, 1981, in Kōriyama, Fukushima, Japan. Honda is a two-time World bronze medalist (2002, 2003), two-time Four Continents champion (1999, 2003), and six-time Japanese national champion. He played the piano and started short track speed skating at the age of six with his brother. He switched to figure skating at nine and moved to Sendai to train with Hiroshi Nagakubo at the age of 12. Honda left Japan to train with Galina Zmievskaya at the International Skating Center in Simsbury, Connecticut, in December 1997. He represented Japan at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano and finished 15th. Honda moved to Barrie, Ontario, Canada, to work with Doug Leigh in 1998. He became the first Four Continents champion in history when he won the inaugural event in 1999. Honda won the bronze medal at the 2002 World Championships and finished in 4th place at the Winter Olympics. He withdrew from the 2005 World Championships after injuring his ankle in a fall during the qualifying segment. Honda ended his competitive career and turned to show skating in March 2006. He is also a TV commentator. He resides in Takatsuki city, Osaka, to coach Daisuke Takahashi (as a technical coach) and Kansai University Skating club. He also coached Mai Asada. Honda is known for his two-time World bronze medalist, two-time Four Continents champion, and six-time Japanese national champion. He is also known for his work as a TV commentator and coach.