Utako Wakamatsu
# Utako Wakamatsu

Utako Wakamatsu (若松 詩子, Wakamatsu Utako, born September 1, 1981) is a Japanese former competitive figure skater. From 2002 to 2007, she skated with Jean-Sébastien Fecteau as a pair skater for Canada, winning the silver medal at the 2006 Four Continents Championships. Earlier in her career, she competed in single skating for Japan.

## Career

Until 2002, Wakamatsu competed in single skating for Japan. She competed on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, winning a bronze medal in 1999 in the Czech Republic, and at one senior Grand Prix event, the 2001 Skate America. She placed as high as fifth on the senior level at the Japan Championships.

In April 2002, Wakamatsu teamed up with Jean-Sébastien Fecteau to compete in pair skating for Canada. In 2003, they won gold medals at the Finlandia Trophy and Nebelhorn Trophy and made their Grand Prix debut.

In the 2004–05 season, Wakamatsu/Fecteau won silver at the 2005 Canadian Championships and were sent to the 2005 World Championships where they placed eighth.

In the 2005–06 season, the pair won bronze at a Grand Prix event, the 2005 NHK Trophy. They also took bronze at the 2006 Canadian Championships and were sent to the 2006 Four Continents Championships where they won the silver medal.

Wakamatsu announced her retirement from competitive skating on April 24, 2007.

## Personal life

Wakamatsu studied social welfare at Tohoku Fukushi University in Sendai.

## Programs

### With Fecteau

| Season | Short program | Free skating |
| - | - | - |
| 2006–2007 | Batwannis Beek White Darbouka by K. Hovannes Indian Touch by Pierre Cosso Here Comes Santa | Picking Up Brides (from The Last Emperor) by Ryuichi Sakamoto Rain (I Want a Divorce) (from The Last Emperor) by Ryuichi Sakamoto Theme from Once Upon a Time in China Rising Sun by Kiyoshi Yoshida |
| 2005–2006 | The Swan (from The Carnival of the Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns | La Revancha by Gotan Project Quartango by Bond |
| 2004–2005 | The Swan (from The Carnival of the Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns | Picking Up Brides (from The Last Emperor) by Ryuichi Sakamoto Rain (I Want a Divorce) (from The Last Emperor) Farewell My Concubine by Zhao Jiping |
| 2003–2004 | Kirwani (from the album Chill out in Paris) by David Visan | Piano Concerto No. 2 in C-Minor, op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninoff |

### Single skating

| Season | Short program | Free skating |
| - | - | - |
| 2001–2002 | Music by Frédéric Chopin | Nessun dorma (from Turandot) by Giacomo Puccini |

## Competitive highlights

### Pairs career with Fecteau for Canada

Results :

| International |||||
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Event | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 |
| Worlds | | 8th | | |
| Four Continents | | | 2nd | |
| GP Cup of Russia | | | | 5th |
| GP NHK Trophy | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 4th |
| GP Skate America | 4th | | | |
| GP Skate Canada | | WD | 6th | |
| Finlandia Trophy | 1st | | | |
| Nebelhorn Trophy | 1st | | | |
| National |||||
| Canadian Champ. | 4th | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| GP = Grand Prix; WD = Withdrew |||||

### Singles career for Japan

Results :

| International |||||||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Event | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–00 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 |
| GP Skate America | | | | | | 9th |
| Universiade | | | | | 5th | |
| International: Junior |||||||
| JGP China | | | | | 4th | |
| JGP Czech Rep. | | | | 3rd | | |
| JGP France | | 6th | | | | |
| JGP Germany | | 10th | | | | |
| JGP Japan | | | | 8th | | |
| JGP Ukraine | | | 6th | | 4th | |
| Triglav Trophy | 2nd J. | | 3rd J. | | | |
| National |||||||
| Japan Champ. | | | | 6th | 5th | 6th |
| Japan Junior | 5th | 5th | 4th | 4th | 4th | |
| GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; J. = Junior level |||||||
