{"id":179317,"date":"2018-02-17T12:21:43","date_gmt":"2018-02-17T17:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=179317"},"modified":"2018-02-18T11:31:15","modified_gmt":"2018-02-18T16:31:15","slug":"olympian-miki-ando-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/olympian-miki-ando-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Two-time Olympian Miki Ando: \u2018I have chosen the baby\u2019s life over skating\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Japanese figure skating champion Miki Ando isn\u2019t skating her own routine in PyeongChang, but she has had plenty of reason to cheer. Her boyfriend, Javier Fernandez, won the broze medal in the mens\u2019 figure skating competition<\/a>, becoming the first man from Spain to win a figure skating medal at the Olympics. Fernandez, a two-time World Champion, was pitted against 2014 Olympic gold medalist, Yuzuru Hanyu, who is also his friend and training partner.<\/p>\n

Described as \u201cinsanely talented<\/a>,\u201d Miki Ando had her own Olympic moments in Turin in 2006 and Vancouver in 2010, where she placed just off the podium in fifth place. While she did not win an Olympic medal, Miki was known for being the first \u2013 and only \u2013 woman to successfully land a quadruple jump in competition. A three-time Japanese national champion and two-time World champion \u2013 who once bested South Korean Olympic gold medalist Yuna Kim \u2013 Miki is a one of those early and brave pioneers who led Japan into its modern, enthusiastic love of figure skating. For the PyeongChang Olympics, Miki was part of the Olympic torch relay<\/a> for Japan.<\/p>\n

\"Miki<\/a>

Miki Ando in a professional figure skating event. (Photo credit: Miki Ando’s Facebook page)<\/p><\/div>\n

But few know why Miki Ando is truly brave.<\/p>\n

Motherhood: Making an Olympian Brave<\/strong><\/p>\n

In late 2012, an unexpected day came in the 25-year-old figure skating champion\u2019s life: the day she realized she was pregnant. Miko had been skating and competing successfully for months, not realizing that her daughter was growing beneath the sparkly designer costumes. When Miki discovered her daughter\u2019s presence, she was five months pregnant.<\/p>\n

Japanese news sites report that abortion was a consideration for Miki, who was already preparing for a third Olympics \u2013 the 2014 Games in Sochi. But Miki could not bring herself to take her daughter\u2019s life, not for figure skating and not for her reputation. Once her pregnancy became known, the skater was reprimanded by the public and derided as a bad example. Miki says<\/a>, \u201cHonestly, 98 percent of the people said it was so bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yet, Miki\u2019s strength was not limited to her quadruple jumps. It extended to her mother\u2019s heart, and Miki stood firmly in her tiny daughter\u2019s corner.<\/p>\n

\"Himawari,<\/a>

Himawari, Miki Ando’s daughter (Photo credit: Miki Ando’s Facebook page)<\/p><\/div>\n

Choosing the Baby\u2019s Life: \u201cIt was a decision I made naturally as a woman.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Miki Ando\u00a0explained how she chose her daughter<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Skating is something indispensable that has brought me up to where I am. I could not make up my mind all the way, but I hated to make a decision to say goodbye (to the baby).<\/p>\n

I have chosen the baby\u2019s life over skating. It was a decision I made naturally as a woman.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Miki named her daughter Himawari, which means \u201csunflower.\u201d She explained,<\/a>\u00a0\u201cA sunflower follows the sun all the time. \u2026 [W]hen I see a sunflower\u2026I feel strong and so positive. If my baby were to be a sunflower, I wanted her to follow a lot of love like a sunflower.\u201d And according to The Japan Times<\/a>, Miki Ando now \u201clooks to be more popular than ever.\u201d She is a TV personality in her native country, as well as a skating coach. She also continues to skate in professional figure skating events, saying, \u201cI am a figure skater for life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Strength from Javier Fernandez: \u201cHe really changed my life.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Miki credits Javier Fernandez for giving her strength to make healthy life choices after the birth of her daughter, and it seems that the man who just won a 2018 Olympic bronze medal also deserves a medal for exemplary fatherhood, as he, too, has embraced Miki\u2019s daughter with love. Miki Ando said<\/a>:<\/p>\n

For him to be with me was probably a hard decision for him, because I have a baby and we are far away. \u2026 He came to me and asked if we could try to work it out to be together, and I was so happy\u2026 We posted a picture as a family. \u2026 He really changed my life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Javier<\/a>

Javier Fernandez with Miki Ando’s daughter, Himawari (Photo credit: Miki Ando’s Facebook page)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a mom AND she\u2019s a legendary figure skater.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Miki returned to figure skating after her daughter\u2019s birth, but she retired from competitive skating prior to the 2014 Olympics. No one knows if she would have been able to compete if she had aborted<\/a> Himawari instead of giving birth to her. Qualifying for multiple Olympic Games is a feat few women attain in figure skating, and Miki had already competed in two. Prior to becoming pregnant with her daughter, Miki had been struggling with burnout and some injuries.<\/p>\n