Suzuki aiming higher following best season of career
紧随职业生涯中最佳赛季，铃木瞄准更高目标
Coming off the best season of her long career, one might think world bronze medalist Akiko Suzuki could be content to retire from competition and turn to show skating.
实现她长长职业生涯中最好的赛季，有人可能认为世界铜牌得主铃木明子可以满足于从竞争中退役，转向表演滑。
The transition would be a snap and the compensation a lot better.
过度将是戛然而止，报酬好得多。
But shortly after leading Japan to victory in last month's World Team Trophy in Tokyo, Suzuki stated her intention to return for at least one more go around on the Grand Prix circuit.
但是，上月让日本赢得东京世界团体赛后不久，铃木声明，她意图再一个赛季的回归，参加巡回大奖赛。
"This season my results were good, so I'm obviously very happy," Suzuki said at a meeting of the Foreign Sportswriters Association of Japan in Tokyo. "But performance-wise I was not happy with all of them. So as long as I can expect to improve more, I would like to continue skating and competing. These are my thoughts at this time — to continue with my competitive career."
“本赛季我的成绩好，所以我显然很高兴。”铃木在东京日本外国体育新闻记者会议上说，“但是表演方面我都不满意。所以只要我还能指望改进，我愿意继续滑冰比赛。这是我现在的想法——继续我的比赛生涯。”
With the 2014 Sochi Games still 21 months away, the native of Aichi Prefecture is not quite ready to commit to a second shot at skating in the Winter Olympics, however.
2014索契运动会还有21个月那么远，但是，这个爱知县土著没有完全准备好投入第二次力争在冬奥会滑冰。
"I'm not sure yet about the Sochi Olympics, but I would like to keep training and continue to improve to show all of the supporters my skating," she stated.
“我不确定索契奥运会，不过我愿意保持训练，继续进步，为所有支持者展示我的滑冰。”她陈述。
Suzuki finished eighth at the 2010 Vancouver Games, behind compatriots Mao Asada (second) and Miki Ando (fifth).
铃木在温哥华运动会以第八结束，在同胞浅田真央（第二）和安藤美姬（第五）之后。
Like most elite skaters, Suzuki began her career at an early age. She was supported by her parents, who run a pair of restaurants in Toyohashi, near Nagoya.
如大部分精英滑冰选手，铃木早年开始她的职业。她受到父母支持，他们在名古屋附近的丰桥经营两家饭店。
"I put skates on for the first time when I was 4," she noted. "I started taking up skating when I was 6.
“四岁时我第一次穿上冰鞋。”她提起，“六岁开始从事滑冰。”
"I first started thinking about the Olympics when I was 16 or 17 and competed in the world junior championships. But I had a health issue (an eating disorder), so I had to be away from the rink for one year.
“当我16或17时第一次开始考虑奥运会，在世界青少年锦标赛比赛。但是我有健康问题（饮食失调），所以我不得不离开冰场一年。”
"When I came back to skating I never thought about making the Vancouver Olympics, but maybe a year before that I thought maybe I had a shot to make the Olympic team."
“当我回来滑冰，我从未想过参加温哥华冬奥会，但是大概一年前，我想也许我有机会进入奥林匹克队伍。”
Suzuki's banner season in 2011-12 included winning the ladies singles at the World Team Trophy and NHK Trophy, and placing second at the Grand Prix Final, the Japan national championships and Skate Canada.
铃木2011-12杰出赛季包括在世界团体赛和日本站女单获胜，在大奖赛决赛、日本全国锦标赛和加拿大站居次。
Pretty impressive results at 27, when most skaters have already hung up their competitive skates. What resonates even more is that Suzuki dominated this season against much younger athletes.
在27岁，当大部分滑冰选手已经把他们的比赛冰鞋闲置，这成绩很令人钦佩。甚至更让人震撼的是，铃木在这个赛季压倒年轻得多的运动员。
On a night when she discussed a wide range of topics, Suzuki was clearly proud of what she accomplished this season after struggling in the 2010-11 campaign and missing out on Japan's team for the world championships.
在这个晚上，铃木讨论范围广泛的话题，在2010-11竞争中苦斗，错失日本世锦赛队伍之后，她显然为本赛季成就骄傲。
"I had a really good season. Everything worked so well," she commented. "It is very tough for me to keep up with the younger skaters because they are very strong technically. I think I can work very hard, despite being 27, because of the one year that I was forced to miss. I wanted to be back on the ice rink. That is one of the motivations that I had.
“我真的有一个好赛季。每件事做得很好。”她评论，“对我来说赶上较年轻的滑冰选手很艰苦，因为她们技术上很强大。我认为我能工作很努力，尽管27岁，由于我被迫失去的一年。我想回到冰场。那是我有的动机之一。”
"I still feel that I haven't reached my limit. I still believe that I can improve from where I am right now. So that also motivates me to continue on with my skating."
“我仍然感觉我没有达到我的极限。我仍然相信我能从我现在的位置进步。所以那也激励我继续滑冰。”
Suzuki's willingness to talk about the eating disorder that sidelined her for the 2003-04 season is admirable, especially in a country where it is often difficult for people to open up about such personal matters.
铃木乐意谈及迫使她退出2003-04赛季的饮食失调是可敬的，特别是在一个常常难以让人揭露这种私事的国家。
"It took about one month after I began having the problem before realizing that something was wrong," she recalled. "I had lost about 5 kg and realized, 'This is not good.' At that time it was uncontrollable and I was unable to eat properly. This is how it happened."
“我开始有这问题，到认识到有什么不对劲，花了大约一个月。”她回忆，“我降低了大约5公斤，然后认识到，‘这样不好’。那时是不能控制的，我不能适当进食。那是这样发生的。”
The 158-cm Suzuki believes she can serve as an inspiration to those who have had or are dealing with the same problem.
158厘米的铃木相信，她能对那些有过或在对付同样问题的人起鼓舞作用。
"I believe that if people watch me training hard and working, they can be encouraged by what I am doing. I think that is very nice," she said. "I want people who have been suffering (from the disorder), to know that there is no need to give up on what they are doing. By encouraging people who are suffering, that motivates me to skate.
“我相信，如果人们观察我努力训练并工作，他们能被我在做的事情鼓励。我认为那很美好。”她说，“我想让遭受失调的人们，不需要放弃他们在做的事情。通过鼓励受苦的人，促使我滑冰。”
"It has been quite some time since I had the health issue. Back then, when I had the health issue, the media was always talking about that before my skating. I wanted them to know about the problem, but at the same time I wanted them to see my skating.
“自从我有健康问题有很长时间了。回到那时，当我有健康问题，在我滑冰前媒体总是谈论那个。我想让他们知道这个问题，但同时我想让他们看我滑冰。”
"But when it came to competition, the fact that I had been sick was irrelevant, so I was very uncomfortable back then about people making a fuss about my health issue. But now people know about my skating. They see my skating first and then learn about my past issue. So I feel more comfortable about it now."
“但是到了比赛时，我病弱和跟不上潮流是个事实，所以那时，人们对我的健康问题小题大做让我不舒服。但是现在人们了解我滑冰。他们首先看我滑冰，然后得知我过去的问题。所以我对现在感觉比较舒服。”
In other countries prominent figures are often advocates for challenges they have faced. Suzuki, an only child, was asked if she would feel comfortable being more out front on the subject of eating disorders.
在其它国家，杰出人物经常是他们所面临的挑战的拥护者。铃木，只是一个孩子，被问到，涉及饮食失调主题，处于更多的关注中是否让她感觉不适。
"As an amateur skater, it would probably be difficult for me to be involved with something like a public service announcement about this issue," she noted. "Of course I would like to be involved with such an activity once I retire from my competitive career."
“作为一个业余滑冰选手，涉入像公共服务通告这样的话题，对我可能有困难。”她提到，“当然，一旦我从竞赛职业退役，乐意涉入这样的活动。”
Talking about the eating disorder wasn't the only sensitive issue she discussed honestly during the evening. Suzuki credited one of the reasons for her success on the ice this season being time she spent discussing her skating with a psychologist.
这个夜晚，饮食失调不是她坦诚议论的唯一敏感话题。铃木把本赛季冰上成就的原因之一，归于她花时间与一位心理学家讨论她的滑冰。
"My friend knew a lady who was a psychologist and said, 'I think this person can really help you.' And she has. I feel very comfortable talking to her."
“我的朋友认识一位女士，是个心理学家，说，‘我认为这个人真的能帮你’。并且她帮了。与她谈话让我感觉很舒适。”
Suzuki said the individual is not a sports psychologist, but somebody who is able to put her in the right frame of mind before events and focus on what is important to being successful.
铃木说这个人不是运动心理学家，而是能让她在赛前置于正确的心境，集中于对胜利重要的事。
"I was advised to get an image of myself floating on a big ocean," she said. "Just let it go without going against the flow. I was told that I could get confidence by doing so, and I have."
“我被建议，想象自己漂浮在大海上。”她说，“只是顺流不逆流。我被告知，那能让我得到信心，我得到了。”
An interesting fact regarding Suzuki is that she has been able to excel on the world stage despite having never trained outside Japan or having a foreign coach.
关于铃木，一个有趣的事实是，尽管她从未在日本之外训练，也没有外国教练，能够在世界舞台获胜。
Almost all of Japan's other great skaters of recent years, including Mao, Ando, Shizuka Arakawa and Daisuke Takahashi, spent a significant amount of time living and training abroad.
近年，其他主要滑冰选手几乎都花费大量时间在海外生活训练，包括真央、美姬、荒川静香和高桥大辅。
"When I was younger, before becoming a top skater in Japan, I thought it was normal for young skaters to go overseas and train under foreign coaches," she said. "But now we have many top coaches in Japan and they have very good qualities. I would like to see the foreign skaters come to Japan to train under the Japanese coaches someday, but the problem is the training environment."
“当我比较年轻的时候，在日本成为顶级滑冰选手前，我认为年轻选手出国接受外国教练训练是正常的。”她说，“但是现在，在日本我们有许多顶级教练，他们有很好的品质。我乐意看到，有一天，外国选手来日本接受日本教练训练，但问题是训练环境。”
Suzuki, who said five-time world champion Michelle Kwan was her idol while growing up, pointed out how the lack of proper facilities hurts both Japanese skaters and coaches and leads to some tough training conditions.
铃木说，五届世界冠军关颖珊是她成长期的偶像，指明，缺乏合适设施如何即伤害日本滑冰选手又伤害教练，导致一些艰苦的训练环境。
"When I go overseas I see the training rinks are there for the skaters. But in Japan we have to skate before the public comes in," she said. "So we have to go in to train at 6 a.m. and then go back again at midnight. This is something that is hindering foreign skaters from coming here to train under Japanese coaches. But I think we do have many great coaches here."
“我出国时看到那里的滑冰选手训练场。但是在日本我们必须在进来的公众面前滑冰。”她说，“所以我们必须早晨六点进入训练，然后半夜再次回来。是这个阻碍外国滑冰选手来这里接受日本教练训练。但是我认为我们有很多极好的教练。”
Suzuki acknowledged that she was fortunate, because the company she works for — Toho Real Estate — has exactly what she needs in terms of resources.
铃木承认她是幸运的，因为她工作的公司——东邦房地产——恰好有她在物力方面的需求。
"The company I belong to has its own skating rink, so I have a great training environment," she said. "So I have no need to go outside Japan. Many skaters go overseas looking for training places just because we don't have a great environment for training. But I have a wonderful environment for training, so I don't need to go outside.
“我隶属的公司有自己的冰场，所以我有很棒的训练环境。”她说，“所以我不需要出日本。许多选手出国寻找训练场所仅因为我们没有训练的好环境。但是我有美妙的训练环境。所以我不需要出国。”
"I've been overseas for a short time for choreography. I tried to absorb as much as I could during my stay there, but I've never thought about moving my training base outside Japan because my coach, Mr. Nagakubo, is the best coach for me."
“我曾为短节目的编舞出国。我在那的时候，尽可能多地努力领会，但是我从未想过把我的训练基地移出日本，因为我的教练，长久保先生，对我来说是最好的教练。”
Suzuki's association with Hiroshi Nagakubo, who previously coached Arakawa and Takeshi Honda, is unusual in the sport as it has continued for nearly a decade. In recent years, skaters have changed coaches almost as often as they have changed costumes.
铃木与曾指导荒川和本田武史的大久保浩的联合，在这项运动中异乎寻常，因为持续了近十年。近年，滑冰先生换教练几乎像换戏装一样寻常。
Nagakubo, 65, was a champion pairs skater and Olympian back in the day, winning five national titles (1968-72) and representing Japan in the 1972 Sapporo Games.
大久保，65岁，当年是一流双人滑选手、奥运会选手，赢得五次全国冠军（1968-1972），在1972札幌运动会代表日本。
"It has been nearly 10 years since I have been working with Mr. Nagakubo," she said. "When you are working with somebody that long, you start saying things very straightforwardly to each other. So we are fighting all the time.
“自从我与大久保先生共事有近十年了。”她说，“当你与一个人共事那么久，你们对彼此说话非常直接。所以我们一直在吵架。”
"Some people say it is like fights between father and daughter. He will scold me sometimes and I will say something back. At the same time, afterward we can have communication. He can explain his feelings about why he said something.
“有人说那像父女间的争吵。他有时会斥责我，而我会顶嘴。然而，后来我们能交流。他能够解释他的感觉，为什么那么说。”
"There are advantages and disadvantages to having such a long relationship. Sometimes I feel like I don't want to see his face today, but tomorrow will be OK. I think our relationship is really strong and good."
“这么长的关系有利弊。有时候我感觉像今天不想看他的脸，但是明天会好。我认为我们的关系确实牢固，也很好。”
Suzuki, whose programs have been popular with both fans and judges alike in recent seasons, detailed the process that is involved in constructing them.
铃木，她的节目像在最近几个赛季受狂热者和裁判的欢迎，她详细说明与构建这些节目相关的过程。
"My coach creates the outline of my elements — jumps and spins — and then I take that to my choreographer," she said. "It takes 2-3 days to memorize all of the movements in a routine."
“我的教练创造这些组成部分的大纲——跳跃和旋转——然后我把它给舞蹈编导。”她说，“记住所有动作成为程序，花2-3天。”
Suzuki cited which of her performances she liked best over the long season.
铃木举出在这个长赛季她最喜欢的表演。
"My short program (to "Hungarian Rhapsody") at the NHK Trophy was my favorite, because that was the first time I landed my triple-triple combination," she reflected. "My free skate (to "Die Fledermaus") at the worlds was my best of the season."
“我的短节目《匈牙利狂想曲》最喜欢日本站的，因为那是我第一次完成三接三连跳。”她想到，“我在世锦赛的自由滑《蝙蝠》是本赛季最佳。”
Suzuki admitted that it was Nagakubo's nudging that convinced her she was going to have to be able to do a triple-triple combination to keep up with her younger opponents.
铃木承认，是大久保的唠叨让她确信，她将有能力做三接三连跳，赶得上较为年轻的对手。
"They say you need a triple-triple combination when you are a teenager, but I felt that at my age I wanted to try and challenge to do it," she said. "My coach had told me for about two years that to be competitive on the world level I needed to be able to do it.
“当你是青少年时，他们说你需要三接三连跳，但是我感觉，在我的年龄我想尝试并挑战它。”她说，“我的教练跟我说了两年，要在世界级有竞争力，我需要能够做它。”
"When I missed out on the worlds last year, I realized that I had to make some changes. So that's why I tried it."
“去年我错过世锦赛时，我认识到我得做出改变。所以，那是我尝试它的原因。”
Suzuki credited the reaction she gets from spectators as being truly rewarding.
铃木相信她从观众得到的反应是确实有益的。
"The happiest moment for me is when I get the direct response and feedback from the fans right after my performance," she said. "I always want to make everyone in the arena come together being excited with my performance."
“对我来说最快乐的时刻是当我刚结束表演，从狂热者那得到回应和反馈。”她说，“我总想让运动场上的每个人一起为我的表演兴奋。”
Athletes often say they are in a "zone" while competing and able to block out almost everything. That's not the case for Suzuki.
运动员经常说，当他们比赛并能忽略几乎所有事，处于一个地带。那不是铃木的情况。
"When I'm skating so well, I can actually hear the clapping and cheers from the audience," she said. "I can even have eye contact with the fans sitting in the first row."
“当我滑得很好的时候，我实际上能听到观众的掌声和喝彩。”她说，“我甚至能与坐在第一排的狂热者眼神交汇。”
Suzuki outlined the rigid training regimen that has kept her in the game at an advanced age.
铃木概括让她在高龄保持在比赛中的严酷训练规则。
"Usually I practice 4 to 4½ hours a day," she said. "During the season I practice six days and then take a day off, then practice another six days and take a day off. That's my schedule.
“通常我一天练习四到四个半小时。”她说，“赛季中，我练习六天，然后休息一天，接着又练习六天，休息一天。那是我的时间表。”
"During the season, maybe 15 minutes of basic skating skills training. Then I play my program music and skate to that. Compared to other skaters, I think I do it more and then I skate to my program music.
“赛季中，大概十五分钟的基础技能训练。然后我放我的节目音乐，滑那个。相比其他滑冰选手，我认为我做得更多，于是我滑我的节目音乐。”
"During the offseason, just like the small skaters, I spend a lot of time on my skating skills. I try to do as many jumps as I can."
“淡季时，就像小滑冰选手，我在滑冰技能花费很多时间。我努力做尽可能多的跳跃。”
Visualization and self-evaluation are important in continuing to improve and excel, according to Suzuki.
形象化和自我评估对于继续进步和优胜是重要的，据铃木说。
"I review all of my jumps and do image training with all of my moves right before going on the ice," she said.
“就在上冰前，回顾所有跳跃，想象训练所有步骤。”她说。
"During my practice sessions I skate to my program music. We are all humans, so we make mistakes. What I try to do is not make consecutive mistakes. If I miss something, I try to be more careful on my next element. So it won't happen over and become a vicious cycle.
“在我的练习期我滑节目音乐。我们都是人类，所有我们犯错。我努力做的是不连续犯错。如果我漏掉什么，在下部分尽力更小心。所以那不会再次发生成为恶性循环。”
"When I was little and made a mistake, the coaches would tell me, 'OK. If you make a mistake, be careful on the next one.' But as a senior skater, you have to be able to regroup quickly after a mistake.
“我小时候犯错时，教练会告诉我，‘好吧。如果你犯错，下一个要小心’。但是作为一个年长的滑冰选手，在犯错后必须能迅速重新组合。”
"This is one of the factors that are necessary to be a world-class skater. You have to be able to regroup quickly and concentrate on your next elements.
“这是世界级滑冰选手必须的元素之一。你必须能迅速重组并集中于接下来的部分。”
"I record my program during practice with my iPad, and I review the video once I finish my program and look at all of my mistakes."
“练习中我用iPad记录节目，一旦结束节目，我回顾视频，看所有错误。”
Suzuki says she tries to be critical when analyzing her own performances.
铃木说，分析自己的表演时，她努力挑剔起来。
"I look at them like a coach and say, 'What advice would I give to myself after making mistakes?' By doing that I can see myself objectively. So this is how I work on my elements and try to eliminate mistakes."
“我像个教练一样看它们，说，‘犯错后我会给自己什么建议’。通过这么做我能客观看待自己。所以，我是这样练习组成部分，努力消除失误。”
When put on the spot about whether she liked Takahashi's programs over two-time defending world champion Patrick Chan of Canada, Suzuki thought for a moment and provided some interesting perspective.
被问道难以回答的问题，是否喜欢高桥的节目胜过两届卫冕世界冠军帕特里克 陈，铃木想了一会，提供了有趣的观点。
"I prefer Daisuke's programs over Patrick's, but Patrick has really accurate edge work," she observed. "It seems sometimes like he has a turbo engine on his edge. That's how fast he is and how much speed he has. It just flows. He has very deep edges. He is very accurate on where to put his edges on the ice. That's why he is so strong with his edge work and footwork.
“我喜欢大辅的节目胜过帕特里克，但是帕特里克用刃确实精确。”她评论，“有时看起来他在刀刃有涡轮增压机。他速度有那么快，加速度有那么快。那正是流动。他用刃很深。在冰上对于把刃放在哪里他很精确。那是他用刃和步法很强的原因。”
"Patrick is improving on how to express his emotions, but I prefer the originality of Daisuke's programs. But I understand why Patrick gets such high scores despite the mistakes he makes.
“帕特里克对如何表达感情在改进，但是我更喜欢大辅节目的创意。不过我理解，为什么尽管帕特里克失误还得高分。”
"If you ask other skaters to do the same things with those transitions in their programs, it's impossible. From the first step it just starts flowing, he gets up to speed. He is very accurate."
“如果你要求其他滑冰选手在他们的节目中做同样的过渡，是不可能的。从第一步正好开始流动，他了解新情况。他非常准确。”
Suzuki suggests that skating judges today are better able to assess the quality of performances because they have been there themselves.
铃木暗示，现在的滑冰裁判更能评估表演质量，因为他们亲自在那里。
"I personally think that today many of the judges are former skaters and ice dancers who have done compulsory and school figures," she said. "By having more of these kind of judges, they know how accurate Patrick and the footwork of other skaters are. If they do the right thing, they get the scores that they deserve."
“我个人认为现在许多裁判是前滑冰选手和冰舞选手，做过规定动作和字形。”她说，“有更多这样的裁判，他们知道帕特里克有多精确，其他滑冰选手的步法怎么样。如果他们做对，他们得到应得的分数。”
Though Suzuki did not spend much time talking about her fellow Japanese skaters, she was asked about Mao competing at the Japan nationals shortly after the untimely passing of her mother Kyoko last December.
尽管铃木没有花太多时间谈论她的同道日本滑冰选手，她被问及，去年十二月母亲杏子过早去世不久，参加全日比赛的真央。
"Before the nationals when I heard that Mao would be competing, I thought she had a very strong heart," Suzuki said. "By looking at her competing there, I thought she was trying her best to show her mother. I had a lot of respect for what she did."
“全国赛前，当我听说真央会参赛，我认为她有一颗强大的心。”铃木说，“看她比赛，我认为她在尽力为她母亲表演。我对她的作为十分尊敬。”
The night took another interesting turn when Suzuki was asked about who she found more attractive — baseball superstar Ichiro Suzuki or the latest Japanese sensation to join the major leagues, Yu Darvish.
这个晚上有另一个有趣的转折，铃木被问及她所发现的更有魅力的人——棒球巨星铃木一郎，或最近加入职业体协在日本引起轰动的达比修有。
After contemplating the question for a few moments, Suzuki replied with a smile, "Well, Ichiro is married, but in the context of the question I would say that he is more appealing. That's just my personal feeling."
就这个问题沉思片刻后，铃木微笑回答：“好吧，一郎已婚，但是在这个问题下，我愿意说他更有魅力。那只是我的个人感觉。”
Suzuki says she already has a goal in mind for when her days skating competitively do end.
铃木说，对于她的竞赛滑冰时期结束，她心里已有目标。
"I always wanted to become a choreographer," she said. "So my plan after retiring from my competitive career is to be a pro skater for as long as possible. Then I would like to be a worldclass choreographer.
"However, Mr. Nagakubo has been trying to convince me to become his successor," she noted with a chuckle.
“我总想成为编舞。”她说，“所以我对竞赛职业退役后的打算，是能做多久职业滑冰选手就做多久。然后我愿意做世界一流编舞。”
“不过，长久保先生努力说服我成为他的继任者。”她窃笑着提起。
One scene that is etched in the mind of many fans is Suzuki's emotional reaction as she left the ice in Vancouver after her free program and skated toward Nagakubo.
一个场景铭刻在许多狂热者的心里，铃木自由滑后离开温哥华的冰场，滑向长久保时，她的情绪反应。
While it is unusual for Japanese athletes to display their feelings so outwardly, Suzuki said she was simply overcome by the series of events that led to her coming from near obscurity to making the Olympic team.
虽然日本运动员如此外向地表露感情是不寻常的，铃木说，她只是被一系列赛事压倒，这些比赛让她从夹缝进入奥林匹克队伍。
"Because the Vancouver Olympics was the first big stage in my career — I had not even made the team for the worlds before — I had the sense of great achievement after my free skate," she said. "I felt it was the best moment of my life."
“因为温哥华奥运会是我职业生涯第一个大舞台——我以前甚至没有进入过世锦赛——自由滑后我有巨大的成就感。”她说，“我感觉那是我一生中最好的时刻。”
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