“Three years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to perform this as well, but over the past few years, I’ve improved and become slightly better at dancing.” Mao Shimada on her jazz SP
Mao Shimada leads after day 1 of the Junior Ladies’ Short Program at Summer Cup
original source: Nikkansports dd August 9th, 2025 / Hochi News
Three-time World Junior Champion Mao Shimada begins her season with a strong performance, holding a provisional lead despite battling a foot injury. Here’s a translation of her comments.
In the junior ladies’ short program (SP), reigning three-time World Junior Champion Mao Shimada scored 67.81 points, taking the lead in her first competition of the season. Reflecting on her performance, Shimada said, “I felt nervous and was anxious, but I’m happy I finished without any major mistakes. At the same time, I feel I could have done better.”
Shimada’s SP this season features jazz pieces Get Happy and Sing, Sing, Sing, marking her first attempt at performing to jazz. Dressed in a bright pink and black costume, she energized the audience with rhythmic steps and an upbeat program. “The feeling is still not quite there yet. I’m performing more within a set framework, so I’d like to loosen up and skate more freely,” she shared, identifying areas for improvement.
However, she revealed that she has been dealing with pain in her right foot and inflammation in the surrounding area for about a month. “I’ve injured my foot because I wasn’t using it properly,” she admitted.
The pain has worsened this week, limiting her ability to train consistently. The injury has had an impact on her jumps, and Shimada wasn’t fully satisfied with her triple lutz: “Because I’ve been compensating for the pain during practice, my triple Lutz hasn’t been as good as I’d like. I need to reassess how I’m jumping it.”
Despite challenges with her jumps, Shimada noted progress in her artistic abilities. “Three years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to perform this as well, but over the past few years, I’ve improved and become slightly better at dancing,” she said, acknowledging her growth.
Shimada shared that her improvements in artistry were inspired by Beijing Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama, who is also performing a jazz-themed SP this season. “He knows how to stop and pause at key moments while moving freely in others. Even though his movements are powerful, there’s a natural flow to them that makes it look effortless,” Shimada explained. “He dances right up until the jump, making it feel as if the jump is part of the choreography. That’s what I want to aim for.”
Looking ahead, Shimada told she will give her best in the upcoming free skate: “I’ll make adjustments so I can deliver the best performance I’m capable of right now, even if just a little better than today.” For her free skate, Shimada will perform to Miracle, a piece composed by Yoshiki of X Japan.
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