“I’ve developed a herniated disc. The situation is worsening.” Sota Yamamoto revealed injury raising doubts about his participation at the Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup
Sota Yamamoto disclosed that he injured his lower back around a week ago.
original source: Nikkansports, September 4th, 2025
Sota Yamamoto (25) revealed that he is battling a herniated disc and other injuries just days before his competition at the Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup, raising doubts about his participation as he prioritizes his health for the upcoming Grand Prix season and the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
The injury occurred after a fall during a practice attempt at a quadruple flip. Since then, he has been alternating rest days to manage his condition, taking anti-inflammatory painkillers in an effort to recover. However, he revealed, “I’ve developed a herniated disc. The situation is worsening. I can’t seem to absorb the jumps’ takeoff and landing impacts through my lower back.”
During his short program run-through at practice, Yamamoto refrained from attempting jumps, restricting himself to light skating to assess his performance. Despite concerns, he remains hopeful ahead of the SP on September 5th. “Time doesn’t stop. Part of me wants to push through with sheer willpower, but competitions are not that forgiving. I’ll think it through again today and see what I can manage,” he said with a serious expression.
This season is critical, with the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics set for February next year. The Grand Prix series, beginning in October, will play a key role in determining Olympic team selections. Yamamoto is entered in the second event, the China Cup (October 24–26), and the sixth event, the Finland Trophy (November 21–23).
Yamamoto’s coach, Machiko Yamada (82), advised him to prioritize the Grand Prix series over risking further injury at this event, saying, “The Grand Prix is more important, so don’t push yourself too hard.” Taking this into account, Yamamoto commented, “I want to compete, but for now, I just want to do what I can. I’ll consult with my coach and make a final decision about participating tomorrow.”
Related topics: Sota Yamamoto
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