Medalist Volume 1

Synopsis

Tsukasa Akeuraji once dreamed of being a top ice skater for Japan. Now, at 26, he wants to return to ice skating, even if that means ice dancing in ice shows. A chance meeting with Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old supposed novice ice skater, sparks his competitive spirit, and he decides to become her coach. With their combined goal and competitive drive, they both dream of making Inori a top ice skater. 

Review and Recommendation

Watching figure skating as a child may never have inspired me to become an Olympic-level ice skater, but the heartwarming story of Medalist Volume 1 may have given me second thoughts. Only joking, but it did an excellent job of evoking nostalgia for the times I would sit in front of my parents' television and watch the great Oksana Baiul dance across the ice. I love a good underdog story, and Medalist wonderfully builds the parallel backgrounds of the two main characters, Tsukasa and Inori. Their camaraderie and passion for ice skating are infectious and keep readers rooting for their victory to the last page. There is an excellent balance of comedy and heartfelt moments while seamlessly integrating new characters into the narrative. The author also naturally weaves ice skating/dancing terminology into the story without creating awkward or forced pauses. I instantly enjoyed reading this manga and look forward to reading volume two. 

Cautions

*Spoiler Alert* (A spoiler alert is being issued because there are mentions of specific plot points that relate to the rating of this review.) 

Medalist Volume 1 is recommended for ages 13 +. Although the manga does not specify reasons for the rating, my assumptions are the use of mild language, bullying, and sports action sequences. A few panels also depict an adult smoking and another adult drinking a beer. The sports action sequences in this manga showcase training techniques for ice skating and dancing. There are a few instances of characters falling or being run into by other characters, but there are no intense sequences of severe violence due to the sport. Inori, the 11-year-old ice skater, experiences bullying from her peers and adults around her, which may trigger some readers. I agree with the initial rating of the manga and recommend this book for teens or older.