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Olympics: Arakawa says winning gold is like dream come true+
(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, Feb. 28_(Kyodo) _ Olympic champion Shizuka Arakawa said Tuesday it seems as if she is living in a dream after returning home with the gold she won in the women's figure skating at the Turin Games.
"It's like a dream that I came back with such a great performance on the greatest stage," Arakawa told reporters in Tokyo after returning from Italy as part of the main contingent of the Japanese Olympic delegation.
"This gold medal is the best thing I've had in my life and hopefully I'll shine as bright as this medal in the future. I'll keep trying and devoting myself in order to make it happen," she said.
Arakawa was greeted by about 1,000 fans and media people at Narita airport earlier Tuesday, five days after winning Japan's only medal at the Turin Olympics with by beating U.S. national champion Sasha Cohen and Russian world champion Irina Slutskaya.
"I think what I did in Turin has opened more opportunities for me to try a lot more things in not only figure skating but other fields. As a skater, I also want to skate in ice shows," she said.
But Arakawa, who had thought about quitting after becoming the world champion in 2004, has not made clear her future.
"I haven't decided yet whether I'll retire soon or turn pro," Arakawa said, indicating the possibility that she will skate in next month's world championships in Calgary, Canada.
In Turin, Arakawa posted career highs in the short program, free skate and total points as the 24-year-old, third after the short program, came from behind to become the first figure skater from Asia to win an Olympic title.
Asked what she wants to do now that she has been freed from the pressure of skating in an Olympics, she said, "I want to travel without taking skates with me -- to beautiful places that make me feel relaxed."
She added she hopes her gold medal performance will help encourage skaters at junior level.
"It's important to have a dream and devote yourself toward realizing it, but it's also important to enjoy what you're doing. It would be great if my skating in Turin will keep you motivated," Arakawa said.
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