When Midori Ito appeared at the NHK Trophy in Osaka, Japan, to present the women’s medals, she was greeted with huge applause by the audience. She happily waved to the crowd, and a big smile lit up her face. Midori Ito, now 56, is a living legend and figure skating icon in Japan and beyond. Today, Japan is a figure skating powerhouse, and it all started with Midori Ito in the late ’80s.

As a skater, Ito was far ahead of her time technically. She made history as the first woman to land a triple Axel at the NHK Trophy in 1988, and already as a junior, she performed triple-triple combinations that were new to women’s skating back then. In 1989, Ito became the first Japanese figure skater to win the World title in any discipline. Of course, she did her trademark triple Axel.

Midori Ito skates her Short Program in1988 Winter Olympic Games on February 25, 1988 in Calgary, Canada. ©Getty Images

Three years later, Ito earned the silver medal at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville, France, and again was the first Japanese figure skater to stand on an Olympic podium. Midori Ito inspired generations of young figure skaters in and outside Japan, and her coach Machiko Yamada would go on to train many more champions such as Mao Asada and Shoma Uno.

Midori Ito skates in the Exhibition event of the Figure Skating competition of the 1992 Winter Olympic Games held in Albertville, France. ©Getty Images

Skating is a lifelong passion for Ito. Since 2011, she has participated in the ISU Adult Competition seven times so far. At this event, former competitive athletes as well as skating enthusiasts of all ages and levels come together to celebrate their love for figure skating. “I’m here to show my joy of skating,” Ito said at the event. The 1989 World Champion still loves being on the ice in her hometown, Nagoya, and teaches children. She watches with pride when other Japanese women perform the triple Axel and win medals. Ito’s legacy lives on in today’s figure skating.