“I think it was meaningful to compete. Situations like this may arise in future competitions, and this was an opportunity for me to face those challenges head-on.” Sota Yamamoto on competing despite battling injuries
Sota Yamamoto placed fourth overall at the Challenger Series Kinoshita Cup despite battling injuries and lack of preparation.
original source: Nikkansports, September 7th, 2025 by Daisuke Fujizuka
Despite placing third in the short program with a strong 84.98 points, his free skate score of 148.93 placed him sixth in that segment, resulting in a total score of 233.91 and a fourth-place finish overall. He reflected on the challenges faced during his free skate and vowed to heal and work harder to improve his performances. Here’s a translation of their comments posted on Nikkansports.
Yamamoto entered the competition despite dealing with recent injuries to his back and shoulder. His free skate program, Hallelujah, was completed but not without struggles. Reflecting on his performance, Yamamoto said, “I lacked practice, and that really showed in my skating. I felt frustration knowing I hadn’t prepared enough, but I’m determined to heal from my injuries and work harder for the next competition.”
Despite his disappointment, Yamamoto expressed the value of participating in the event: “I think it was meaningful to compete. Situations like this may arise in future competitions, and this was an opportunity for me to face those challenges head-on. I didn’t perform close to the level I’m aiming for, so I need to focus on healing and fully committing to practice.”
During his post-skate interview, Yamamoto candidly assessed his performance:
“Q: How do you feel about your free skate?
Sota Yamamoto: I think my lack of practice was evident in the performance. Even while skating, I didn’t have the confidence that comes from solid preparation. It’s frustrating, but I’ll take this experience to push forward while focusing on recovering from my injuries.
Q: What about your quad jumps?
Sota Yamamoto: I lacked the confidence I needed to execute them across the program. In the short program, the fewer elements made it manageable, but in the free skate, my lack of preparation was more apparent.
Q: Did you meet the intention expressed by your choreographer, Lori Nichol?
Sota Yamamoto: Not at all. Even in the step sequences, I felt like I wasn’t expressing myself properly. I haven’t fully internalized the movements yet, and there are many areas where I don’t feel in sync with the program. I need to explore these aspects and make the performance truly my own.
Q: What did you gain from participating despite the injuries?
Sota Yamamoto: This competition was meaningful because it reminded me of the areas I need to improve and the challenges I can expect in future events. Facing adversity and competing against myself in these situations is, in itself, an important experience.”
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