Japanese skater hopes to become a member of Russian team

Yuko Kavaguchi, a young and promising Japanese skater, has found a partner and trainer in Russia. Now she hopes to win a place at the Vancouver Winter Olympics games in 2010 as a member of the Russian national team.

8 years ago Kavaguchi faxed a letter to one of the best skating trainers in Russia, Tamara Moskvina, saying she wants Ms Moskvina to be her coach.

The Russian coach agreed to work with the Japanese skater. Since then Tamara Moskvina has become Yuko Kavaguchi’s second mother.

As for Yuko’s partner Aleksandr Smirnov, he had some doubts in the beginning, concerning the difference of mentalities, but Yuko's modesty and tenacity made her a great partner and resulted in appearing a very promising pair.

Of course, Tamara Moskvina has to put in a lot of effort to make this pair work. She has never trained international sportsmen, but she thinks these two will make a successful Russian couple.

However, to be able to perform for the national team at the Olympic games, Yuko has to obtain Russian citizenship.

Mindful of this, Yuko wants to ask the Japanese Prime Minister to make an exception to the law and let her have double citizenship.