Shoma Uno: “If Malinin leaves viewers thinking, ‘Wow, that was incredible,’ Kagiyama evokes feelings of, ‘I just witnessed something beautiful, and I’m deeply moved.’ That duality – athleticism and artistry – is what makes figure skating so captivating.”
Shoma Uno about Ilia Malinin, Yuma Kagiyama and Mikhail Shaidorov.
original source: Nikkansports dd. June 1st 2025 by Wataru Matsumoto
As of June 1, there are 250 days remaining until the opening of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, which begins on February 6, 2026.
Shoma Uno (27), former world champion in men’s singles and medalist at the 2018 Pyeongchang (silver) and 2022 Beijing (bronze) Olympics, participated in an exclusive interview, offering insights into the appeal of reigning two-time world champion Ilia Malinin (20) and Yuma Kagiyama (22). Last season marked Shoma Uno’s retirement from competitive figure skating. This season, he has transitioned into a commentary role, providing expert analysis through the lens of a former skater. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
Shoma Uno: “I believe Malinin emerged because someone with an extraordinarily high level of physical ability paired it with technically sound jumps. While many skaters rely on brute strength to perform jumps, he possesses the essential techniques needed. Of course, this level of success also stems from hard work, but to put it simply, I think he was performing uniquely chosen jumps from the very start. What others find difficult, he executes effortlessly, jumping with ease, one after the other.”
When Ilia Malinin visited Japan in April, he joined a joint practice session in Kyoto with skaters from Kinoshita Academy. Coaches and skaters who observed him up close noted that after landing a quadruple toe loop, where the left foot’s toe pick makes contact with the ice, the resulting hole in the ice was remarkably small. When this observation was relayed to Shoma Uno, he provided an expert explanation from the perspective of a former competitor.
Shoma Uno: “Figure skating is a sport where consistency is key. The more refined a jump becomes, the more compact it gets, even if performed at lower speeds. This results in smaller holes on the ice. Conversely, when a lot of raw force is applied, the hole becomes larger. For instance, if you bend your knees and extend them straight upward, it generates upward propulsion. However, if the knees bend sideways, the force merely serves to stop forward momentum. Hearing about the size of the hole, I thought, ‘He’s likely able to jump so effortlessly because he uses minimal force and has exceptional control over his rotational axis.’”
At the World Championships, 20-year-old Mikhail Shaidorov from Kazakhstan surprised everyone by finishing second. In the free skate, he showcased an incredible feat, executing a quadruple Salchow at the end of a sequence of three consecutive jumps that began with a triple Axel.
Shoma Uno: “When skaters with high physical abilities study Malinin’s jumps, their techniques start to resemble his. Watching Shaidorov, I felt the same way. Perhaps we’ll see jumpers emerge in the future who rival Malinin’s level.”
With 250 days remaining until the Olympics, Shoma Uno also emphasized the unique appeal of Yuma Kagiyama, who has faced challenges this season.
Shoma Uno: “From the opening pose to the final moment of his performance, Yuma-kun’s skating flows seamlessly, and every jump is executed beautifully. The taut tension of his performances actually works in his favor. Of course, he gets nervous, but that nervous energy draws the audience in and moves them emotionally. If Malinin leaves viewers thinking, ‘Wow, that was incredible,’ Yuma-kun evokes feelings of, ‘I just witnessed something beautiful, and I’m deeply moved.’ That duality – athleticism and artistry – is what makes figure skating so captivating.”
Related topics: Ilia Malinin, Mikhail Shaidorov, Shoma Uno, Yuma Kagiyama
Ilia is a better jumper and better performer, Yuma is better at skating skills, musicality, footwork, and spins. I love to watch them both, but if I had to choose who to watch perform, Yuma always comes out on top, he’s just a better skater. Jumps are weighted far too heavily in the IJS. But I love both of them and I’m happy when either of them are successful.