Medalist Episode 7 Review: What Makes Someone A Great Teacher?

This episode of Medalist was a great watch that revolved around both Tsukasa and Inori. Let’s see how this episode turned out.

Medalist Episode 6 Recap

Minori receives a blunt and direct reality check from Jun, and while it might seem like a moment that would bring her down, she handles it with incredible maturity. Instead of being discouraged, she takes his words in stride without a hint of hesitation. Her determination shines through when she approaches her mentor, Tsukasa, with a request to participate in yet another challenging competition.

She isn’t obligated to enter as she already secured a victory. But she willingly puts herself at risk of a tough loss. When she explains her reasoning, it becomes clear why she’s making this choice. Minori is fully aware that she has a long way to go before reaching Hikaru’s level. Rather than avoiding defeat, she embraces it as motivation, ensuring she never stops improving. Her ability to transform setbacks into fuel for growth is a mindset that defines true athletes.

But Minori isn’t the only one whose resilience stands out in this episode. Tsukasa’s own journey as a skater takes center stage, giving us a deeper understanding of his struggles. While it was previously mentioned that he started skating at 14, we now learn that he only managed to find a proper coach at 20 which is a remarkably late start for anyone aspiring to go pro.

Fortunately, he had a strong support system that helped him achieve some level of success.

Medalist Episode 7 Review And Recap

Today, we got another very character-driven episode where things start with a dream that Coach Tsukasa has. It is apparent that he is troubled after meeting with Jun and being challenged directly by him. However, that dream does little to squash his ambition to make Inori a great skater at any cost. It is revealed that there is going to be a West Japan championship for elementary schoolers that will be held in Kyoto.

Unlike the previous championship, this one will include a lot more skaters from all around Japan, and the competition will be extremely tough. On top of that, Minori will also have to prepare for her badge test. But these challenges, along with the pressure to earn almost eight more points to secure a position, only make our protagonist excited. She even managed to land a double jump on her own without even asking for help from Tsukasa.

However, when she tried to show it to her teacher, she couldn’t land it. This is not a big deal because if she did it once, that means she can do it again. But this raises questions in Tsukasa’s mind about whether he is fit to be a teacher or not. According to him, Inori is an exceptionally talented young girl who can learn very fast. So, if he does not guide her properly, he will be the one to hamper her journey.

In this episode, we see how Tsukasa is also growing as a teacher alongside his one student, even though he heavily lacks confidence in himself. As he became a skater pretty late and only participated in pair skating, he does not consider himself good. However, what he does not realize is that he possesses an exceptional eye for reading and analyzing skating in a way no one can.

Verdict

Hopefully, we will see Tsukasa and Inori both overcoming their mistrust in themselves and becoming more confident in life. It will be great to see them help each other out, as they can be very critical of themselves.

Also Read: Medalist Episode 6 Review: The Mark of a True Athlete