The last woman to beat Yuna Kim at a major international competition is making good on comeback plans after having a baby girl.
Japan’s Miki Ando, who beat Kim at the 2011 World Championships, was added to the field for next week’s Nebelhorn Trophy in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Tuesday.
Ando, 25, has not competed since winning that 2011 world title, according to icenetwork.com. She made front-page news in Japan in July when she revealed on a TV show that she had a baby girl, Himawari, in April, hinting that she considered an abortion. Ando also won the 2007 world title and placed fifth at the 2010 Olympics.
She’s trying to make her third Olympic team for Japan, which earned three spots in Sochi. One of those spots will surely go to reigning world and Olympic silver medalist Mao Asada.
Other favorites include 2010 world junior champion Kamako Murakami and 2012 world bronze medalist Akiko Suzuki. Ando will likely have to finish in the top three at the Japanese championships in December to make the Olympic team.
Three-time European bronze medalist Kiira Korpi withdrew from Nebelhorn Trophy after suffering a partially torn Achilles, she said on Facebook.