Don't Give Up Even If You Fall! Episode 4 of the Anime "Medalist" Moves Viewers to Tears with Inori's Performance

The popular figure skating manga that has swept numerous manga awards is now the basis for the anime "Medalist." Episode 4 began airing on January 25th. The sight of Inori Kessoku (voiced by Natsumi Haruse) continuing to skate with a smile despite failing her jump has deeply moved many viewers, with comments such as "I can't stop crying at just this scene" and "This is so moving, I'm crying."

In Episode 4, titled "Meiko Cup: Novice Girls FS (Part 1)," Inori makes her first appearance in a skating competition. Understandably nervous, she fell multiple times during practice right before the event. Just before her turn, she expressed her anxiety, saying, "I can't help but think about what if I fail..."

As the performance began, Inori fell on her first jump. However, she quickly got up with a smile and attempted a second jump. She successfully landed one jump after another, and astonishingly, during her final spin, she even performed the "Broken Leg," which she had only been taught once. Her coach, Tsukasa Meiura (voiced by Takeo Otsuka), was moved to tears, saying, "Even though she fell, she didn't give up and kept thinking about winning till the very end."

Inori's remarkable performance, in which she didn't give up despite her failures, elicited a flood of emotional responses online, such as "I can't stop crying just from this scene," "This is so incredible, I'm crying. Inori-san's dedication and refusal to give up are truly amazing," and "I seriously need a bath towel for my tears."

The anime "Medalist" is based on a manga serialized in the seinen manga magazine "Monthly Afternoon" (published by Kodansha) by Tsurumaikada. The original work has been awarded first place in the "Next Manga Awards 2022" in the Comics category, as well as winning the "68th Shogakukan Manga Award" in the General category and the "48th Kodansha Manga Award" in the General category. The story follows a young girl, Inori Kessoku, who dreams of the world of figure skating, and her coach, Tsukasa Meiura, a former figure skater, as they team up to aim for the top.

Episode 4 "Meiko Cup: Novice Girls FS (Part 1)"
[Synopsis]
The Meiko Cup, Inori and Tsukasa's first competition, has begun. With her mother, who was opposed to her skating, and her admired sister watching, Inori trips on the ice and fails her jumps during the practice right before her performance. The first skate that stakes her future on whether she can continue skating begins.

(C)つるまいかだ・講談社／メダリスト製作委員会