Japan-born Kawaguchi to represent Russia at 2010

FIGURE skater Yuko Kawaguchi will represent Russia at the 2010 Vancouver, after receiving permission from the Japanese Olympic Committee.

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Japan-born Yuko Kawaguchi, with parther Alexander Smirnov, is granted permission to represent Russia at Vancouver 2010 (Getty Images)

The 27-year-old pairs ace picked up bronze at the World Figure Skating Championships earlier this month in Los Angeles, along with Russian partner Alexander Smirnov.

Kawaguchi, born in Funabashi, has represented Japan, the USA and Russia throughout her career, having acquired Russian nationality last December.

Russian Olympic Committee President Leonid Tyagachev received a letter from his Japanese counterpart Tsunekazu Takeda.

The letter said that the 27-year-old Yuko Kawaguchi, who has been training in Russia for many years, skating with Russian citizen Alexander Smirnov, may take part in the 2010 Olympics unconditionally.

The Japanese Olympic Committee made this decision after consultations with the Japan Skating Federation.