Yanaka Muramoto (Kana = 27) and Daisuke Takahashi (34 = Tomokandai KFSC) participated, who became the second race of the competition. After overcoming Muramoto’s left knee injury, he scored 67.83 points and started second out of 5 groups.

An accident occurred at official practice this morning. Takahashi and Muramoto, who were checking the steps of the fins, got tangled up and fell. Takahashi’s butt came to rest on Muramoto’s left knee and took weight, and there was an accident in which he fell to the ice for about a minute.

The two of them explained this scene as follows.

At the end of Takahashi Finstep, time was interrupted during the twisting scene and the two feet collided. As a result, all my weight went onto Yanaka-chan. It feels like “it’s dangerous”. When I saw him … Yanaka-chan was crouching down. He did not want to live. But I was relieved because he stood up.

Muramoto asked me what happened. All the weight fell on the back of the knee. The first feeling. “Oh yaba.” I wanted to get on my feet right away and not show too much (where I got injured and collapsed), but I just couldn’t stand up. I felt like I wasn’t strong enough so I was wondering what to do.

Do not go to the hospital, use ice, etc. The final decision on whether to participate or not was decided after 5 minutes of practice, the condition was confirmed and forced participation was decided. No tape was wrapped around Muramoto’s left knee. It is said that it was rolled up until shortly before, and it appears that he held it and removed it because it does not restrict movement.

In the performance that Muramoto had hurt, he also performed a twist around the left knee and flexing and straightening the knee. He may have been affected by the injury, but when he managed to step, turn and lift, he gave a great applause from the spot. When the performance ended, they hugged each other with a solid expression.[Atsushi Kinoshita]