View source for Rena Inoue

{{short description|Japanese-born American pair skater|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox figure skater
| name = Rena Inoue
| image = 2009 Trophée Éric Bompard Pairs - Rena INOUE - John BALDWIN - 6486a.jpg
| caption = Rena Inoue and John Baldwin
| fullname = <!--if different than name above-->
| native_name  = 井上 怜奈
| country = {{USA}} <small>(since 2000)</small><br>{{JPN}} <small>(before 2000)</small>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|17}}
| birth_place = [[Nishinomiya]], [[Hyogo]], Japan
| hometown = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
| residence = 
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|1.49|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| partner = '''[[John Baldwin (figure skater)|John Baldwin]]''' <small>(since 2000)</small><br> [[Tomoaki Koyama]] <small>(before 2000)</small>
| coach ={{br separated entries| [[Jenni Meno]] | [[Todd Sand]] | Philipp Mills | [[Peter Oppegard]] | [[Oksana Grishuk]] | [[Jill Watson]] }}
| choreographer =
| formerchoreographer = {{br separated entries| [[Oksana Grishuk]] | Philipp Mills }}
| skating club = All Year FSC
| beganskating = 1980
| retired = 2010
| combined total = 183.17
| combined date = [[2006 World Figure Skating Championships|2006 Worlds]]
| SP score = 61.73
| SP date = [[2007 Four Continents Championships|2007 Four Continents]]
| FS score = 122.27
| FS date = [[2006 World Figure Skating Championships|2006 Worlds]]
| medaltemplates = <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalSport | [[Figure skating]] – [[Pair skating|Pairs]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|Four Continents Championships]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2006 Colorado Springs]] | Pairs }}
{{MedalBronze | [[2007 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2007 Colorado Springs]] | Pairs }}
{{MedalCountry | {{JPN}} }}
{{MedalSport | [[Single skating|Ladies']] [[figure skating]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Figure skating at the Winter Universiade|Winter Universiade]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[Figure skating at the 1997 Winter Universiade|1997 Muju]]|Ladies' singles}}
| show-medals = yes
}}

{{nihongo|'''Rena Inoue'''|井上 怜奈|Inoue Rena|born October 17, 1976}} is a Japanese-born American retired [[pair skater]]. With partner [[John Baldwin (skater)|John Baldwin]], she is the 2004 and 2006 [[United States Figure Skating Championships|U.S. National Champion]]. Inoue previously competed for Japan as both a [[single skating|single skater]] and pair skater. Inoue and Baldwin are the first skaters to perform a [[Axel jump|throw triple Axel]] in competition.

==Personal life==
Rena Inoue was born in [[Nishinomiya, Hyōgo]], Japan. She moved to the United States in 1996 at the urging of her father, who had been diagnosed with lung cancer. In 1998, less than two years after her father's death, Inoue was also diagnosed with lung cancer. It was detected early, and after six months of [[chemotherapy]], she was cancer-free.<ref name="Cancer">{{cite news |date=9 February 2006 |title=Pairs skater reveals bout with lung cancer |url=https://www.espn.com/extra/olympics/story?id=2324770&src=desktop |work=ESPN |location=Bristol, Connecticut |access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref>

Inoue graduated from [[Waseda University]] in 1999 with a degree in education.<ref name=usocbioRI/> She became a U.S. citizen in 2005.<ref name=usocbioRI/> Inoue became engaged to be married to skating partner [[John Baldwin (figure skater)|John Baldwin]] in January 2008.<ref name=lat0802/> Their daughter was born November 2011.<ref name=yt2017/>

==Career==

===Competing for Japan===
Rena Inoue began skating at age four. She competed in the disciplines of [[single skating]] and [[pair skating]] in Japan. As a single skater, Inoue is the 1994 [[Japan Figure Skating Championships|Japanese silver medalist]] and 1998 bronze medalist. She represented [[Japan at the 1994 Winter Olympics]] in singles and placed 18th. She competed for Japan in singles through 1999.

As a pair skater, Inoue competed with [[Tomoaki Koyama]]. They were the 1991 and 1992 [[Japan Figure Skating Championships|Japanese national champions]]. They represented [[Japan at the 1992 Winter Olympics]] and placed 14th.

===Competing for the United States===
While living in the United States, Inoue was paired with [[John Baldwin (figure skater)|John Baldwin]] by his father, a coach. Inoue and Baldwin tried out and agreed to form the partnership. They began competing together in 2000.<ref name=absk2006/>

They placed 11th at the [[2001 United States Figure Skating Championships|2001 U.S. Championships]]. The following season, they won the pewter medal at the [[2002 United States Figure Skating Championships|2002 U.S. Championships]]. They were sent to the [[2002 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2002 Four Continents]], their first international competition together, and placed 7th.

In the 2002–2003 season, Inoue / Baldwin competed on the Grand Prix circuit for the first time. Returning to Nationals, they won the bronze medal. They withdrew from the [[2003 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2003 Four Continents]], but placed 10th at the [[2003 World Figure Skating Championships|2003 World Championships]].

In the 2003–2004 season, they improved on their Grand Prix results and won their first national title. They placed 4th at the [[2004 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2004 Four Continents]] and repeated their 10th-place finish at the [[2004 World Figure Skating Championships|2004 World Championships]].

In the 2004–2005 season, they medalled for the first time on the Grand Prix and qualified for the Grand Prix Final, where they placed 6th. They won the silver medal at the [[2005 U.S. Figure Skating Championships]] and placed 11th at the [[2005 World Figure Skating Championships|2005 World Championships]].

In the 2005–2006 season, Inoue / Baldwin medalled on the Grand Prix. At the [[2006 United States Figure Skating Championships|2006 U.S. Championships]], Inoue and Baldwin became the first pair to successfully perform a throw triple [[Axel jump|Axel]] in competition.<ref name=usat060113/> They went on to the [[2006 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|2006 Four Continents]], which they won. At the [[2006 Winter Olympics]], they made Olympic and international history when they landed the throw triple Axel for the first time in international competition. They placed 7th overall. At the [[2006 World Figure Skating Championships]], they placed 4th.

[[Image:2006 Skate America Pairs Podium.jpg|thumb|right|Inoue / Baldwin on the podium at the 2006 Skate America.]]
In the 2006–2007 season, Inoue / Baldwin won the gold medal at the [[2006 Skate America]] after winning the short program and placing second in the free skate. They won the silver medal at [[2006 Skate Canada International]] the next week; and then won the silver at [[2006 Trophée Eric Bompard]] one week later. They qualified for the [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Grand Prix Final]]. While in Saint Petersburg for that competition, Baldwin was abducted, assaulted and robbed,<ref name=lat070123/> though he and Inoue were still able to compete, and finished fourth. At the [[2007 United States Figure Skating Championships|2007 U.S. Championships]], they won the silver medal. They placed 8th at the [[2007 World Figure Skating Championships|2007 World Championships]].

In the 2007–2008 season, Inoue / Baldwin sat out the Grand Prix series, choosing to skate in shows instead. Returning to competition at the [[2008 United States Figure Skating Championships|2008 U.S. Championships]], they won the silver medal. While they were taking their bows following their free skate, Baldwin proposed marriage to Inoue on the ice and she accepted.<ref name=lat0802/><ref name=people0802/><ref name=sosd0802/> Inoue / Baldwin competed at the [[2008 World Figure Skating Championships|2008 World Championships]], where they placed 10th.

Inoue / Baldwin were 5th at the [[2008 Skate America]] and won the silver medal at the [[2008 NHK Trophy]].

== Programs ==
(with Baldwin)

{|class=wikitable style=text-align:center
! Season
! [[Short program (figure skating)|Short program]]
! [[Free skating]]
|-
! 2009–2010 <br> <ref name=bio0910/><ref name=inbioRIJB/>
|
* Tango de los Exilados <br><small> by Walter Taieb and Vanessa Mae </small>
|
* Concert for Piano No. 1 <br><small> by Peter I. Tchaikovski </small>
|-
! 2008–2009 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0809/>
|
* Illumination <br><small> by Secret Garden </small>
| rowspan=2 |
* Pompei <br><small> by E. S. Posthumous </small>
|-
! 2007–2008 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0708/>
|
* Beethoven's Last Night <br><small> by [[Trans-Siberian Orchestra]] </small>
|-
! 2006–2007 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0607/>
|
* The Soul of Spain
|
* Selection <br><small> by Giacomo Puccini </small>
|-
! 2005–2006 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0506/>
|
* Adagio in G minor <br><small> by [[Remo Giazotto]], [[Tomaso Albinoni]] </small>
|
* Selection <br><small> by Dmitri Shostakovich </small>
|-
! 2004–2005 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0405/>
|
* Bird of Fire <br><small> Orchestra: Salsoul </small>
|
* Selection <br><small> by Trans-Siberian Orchestra </small>
|-
! 2003–2004 <br> <ref name=inbioRIJB/><ref name=bio0304/>
|
* Murder at the Cotton Club <br><small> by Erik Ekstrand Ensemble </small>
|
* Wonders of the New World <br><small> by Elton John </small>
* Pearl Harbor <br><small> by Hans Zimmer </small>
|-
! 2002–2003 <br> <ref name=bio0203/>
|
* Carmen <br><small> by Doc Severenson <br> London Philharmonic Orchestra </small>
| rowspan=2 |
* Brazil <br><small> by Michael Kamen <br> The National Philharmonic Orchestra of London </small>
|-
! 2001–2002 <br> <ref name=bio0102/>
|
* Millenium
|}

==Competitive highlights==
''GP: [[ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating|Champions Series / Grand Prix]]''

===Pairs career with John Baldwin for the United States===
{|  class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=11 align=center | International<ref name=isucrRIJB/>
|-
! Event
! {{tooltip|00–01|2000–2001}}
! 01–02
! 02–03
! 03–04
! 04–05
! 05–06
! 06–07
! 07–08
! 08–09
! 09–10
|-
| align=left | [[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Olympics]] || || || || || || 7th || || || ||
|-
| align=left | [[World Figure Skating Championships|Worlds]] || || || 10th || 10th || 11th || 4th || 8th || 10th || ||
|-
| align=left | [[Four Continents Figure Skating Championships|Four Continents]] || || 7th || || 4th || || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || 4th || 7th ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final|Final]] || || || || || 6th || || 4th || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Bofrost Cup]] || || || 5th || || || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Trophée Eric Bompard|Bompard]] || || || || || || 4th || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || || || 4th
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Cup of China]] || || || || 5th || || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Cup of Russia]] || || || 5th || || || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[NHK Trophy]] || || || || 4th || 4th || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Skate America]] || || || || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || || 5th ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] || || || || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || || ||
|-
! style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=11 align=center | National<ref name=isucrRIJB/>
|-
| align=left | [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships|U.S. Champ.]] || 11th || bgcolor=d1c571 | 4th || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd
|}

===Singles career for Japan===
{|  class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=10 align=center | International
|-
! Event
! {{tooltip|90–91|1990–1991}}
! 91–92
! 92–93
! 93–94
! 94–95
! 95–96
! 96–97
! 97–98
! 98–99
|-
| align=left | [[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Olympics]] || || || || 18th || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | [[World Figure Skating Championships|Worlds]] || || || || 13th || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Cup of Russia]] || || || || || || || || 10th ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]] || || || || || || align=center | 7th || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Skate America]] || || || || || || 8th || || ||
|-
| align=left | {{small|GP}} [[Skate Canada International|Skate Canada]] || || || || || || || || 9th ||
|-
| align=left | [[Bofrost Cup on Ice|Nations Cup]] || || || || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | [[NHK Trophy]] || || || 11th || 8th || || || || ||
|-
| align=left | [[Figure skating at the Winter Universiade|Universiade]] || || || || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || ||
|-
! style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=10 align=center | International: Junior
|-
| align=left | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|Junior Worlds]] || 14th || || || 5th || || || || ||
|-
! style="background-color: #ffdead; " colspan=10 align=center | National
|-
| align=left | [[Japan Figure Skating Championships|Japan Champ.]] || || || || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || 12th || 5th || 6th || bgcolor=cc9966 | 3rd || WD
|-
| align=left | [[Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships|Japan Jr. Champ.]] || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=silver | 2nd || || || || ||
|-
| colspan=10 align=center | <small> WD = Withdrew </small>
|}

=== Pairs career with Koyama for Japan ===
{|  class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International
|-
! Event
!1987–88
!1988–89
! 1989–90
! 1990–91
! 1991–92
|-
| align=left | [[Figure skating at the Olympic Games|Winter Olympics]]
|
| ||  || || 14th
|-
| align=left | [[World Figure Skating Championships|World Championships]]
|
| ||  || 15th ||
|-
| align=left | [[Trophée Éric Bompard|International de Paris]]
|
| ||  || || 7th
|-
| align=left | [[NHK Trophy]]
|
| ||  || || 7th
|-
! colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | International: Junior
|-
| align=left | [[World Junior Figure Skating Championships|World Junior Championships]]
|
| || 7th || ||
|-
! colspan="6" style="background-color: #ffdead; " align="center" | National
|-
| align=left | [[Japan Figure Skating Championships|Japan Championships]]
|
| ||  || bgcolor=gold | 1st || bgcolor=gold | 1st
|-
| align=left | [[Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships|Japan Junior]]
| bgcolor=gold | 1st
|
| bgcolor=gold | 1st
|
|
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2|refs=

<ref name=isucrRIJB>{{cite web | url = http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs_cr_00005328.htm | title = Competition Results: Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN | work = International Skating Union }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0102>{{cite web | url = http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2001/2002 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020128125354/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = January 28, 2002 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0203>{{cite web | url = http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2002/2003 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20030804023654/http://www.icecalc.de/isu/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = August 4, 2003 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0304>{{cite web | url = http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2003/2004 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040603073639/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = June 3, 2004 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0405>{{cite web | url = http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2004/2005 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050404225205/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = April 4, 2005 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0506>{{cite web | url = http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2005/2006 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060427052616/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = April 27, 2006 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0607>{{cite web | url = http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2006/2007 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070426183611/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = April 26, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0708>{{cite web | url = http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2007/2008 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080527093722/http://www.isufs.org/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = May 27, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0809>{{cite web | url = http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2008/2009 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090711155811/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = July 11, 2009 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=bio0910>{{cite web | url = http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00005328.htm | title = Rena INOUE / John BALDWIN: 2009/2010 | work = International Skating Union | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110914221035/http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00005328.htm | archive-date = September 14, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name=inbioRIJB>{{cite web | url = http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=38002&mode=P | title = Rena Inoue / John Baldwin | work = [[U.S. Figure Skating|IceNetwork]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130123102753/http://web.icenetwork.com/skaters/detail.jsp?id=38002&mode=P | archive-date = January 23, 2013 | url-status = live }}</ref>

<ref name=absk2006>{{cite news | url = http://absoluteskating.com/index.php?cat=interviews&id=2006inouebaldwin | title = Baldwin: Rena is my idol | first = Susanne | last = Kempf | work = AbsoluteSkating.com | year = 2006 | access-date = February 7, 2011 }}</ref>

<ref name=usat060113>{{cite news | url = https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/winter/2006-01-13-pairs-free-skate_x.htm | title= A first in pairs skating? | first = Gary | last = Mihoces | work= USA Today | date = January 26, 2006 }}</ref>

<ref name=lat070123>{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-jan-23-sp-elliott23-story.html | title = Mugging leaves Baldwin recovering but still shaken | first=Helene | last=Elliott | work = Los Angeles Times | date= January 23, 2007 | access-date=February 16, 2010 }}</ref>

<ref name=lat0802>{{cite news | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-feb-02-sp-elliott2-story.html | title = After their skate, the answer is yes | first = Helene | last = Elliott | work = Los Angeles Times | date = February 2, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name=people0802>{{cite news | url = http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20174124,00.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080131014929/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20174124,00.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 31, 2008 | title = Olympic Skaters Get Engaged on Ice | first1 = Lorenzo | last1 = Benet | first2 = Sheila | last2 = Eldred | work = [[People (magazine)|People]] | date = January 28, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name=sosd0802>{{cite news | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20080127-9999-1s27zeigler.html | title = Baldwin wins Inoue's heart with proposal | first = Mark | last = Zeigler | work = [[U-T San Diego|San Diego Union-Tribune]] | date = January 27, 2008 }}</ref>

<ref name=usocbioRI>{{cite web | url = http://www.usoc.org/26_42957.htm | title = Athlete bio: Rena Inoue | publisher = United States Olympic Committee | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930202143/http://www.usoc.org/26_42957.htm | archive-date = September 30, 2007 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

<ref name=yt2017>{{cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3vpUHg3b00| title=- YouTube | website=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>

}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Rena Inoue}}
* {{ISU name | id=00005328 | name= Rena Inoue / John Baldwin}}
* {{USFSA name | category=AthletePairBio | id=18340 | name= Rena Inoue / John Baldwin}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317105309/http://inoueandbaldwin.com/ |date=March 17, 2010 |title=Official site of Inoue / Baldwin }}

{{NavigationUSChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationFourContinentChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}
{{NavigationSkateAmericaChampionsFigureSkatingPairs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Inoue, Rena}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American female pair skaters]]
[[Category:Japanese female single skaters]]
[[Category:Japanese female pair skaters]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Figure skaters from Nishinomiya]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skaters for Japan]]
[[Category:Olympic figure skaters for the United States]]
[[Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:American sportspeople of Japanese descent]]
[[Category:Four Continents Figure Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Winter World University Games medalists in figure skating]]
[[Category:FISU World University Games silver medalists for Japan]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1997 Winter Universiade]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportswomen]]
[[Category:20th-century Japanese sportswomen]]
[[Category:Waseda University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]