“I was so nervous that I couldn’t even eat properly.” “I was constantly battling feelings of fear throughout the event.” Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi on securing Japan’s historic second Olympic pair spot
Yuna Nagaoka and Sumitada Moriguchi Reflect on Securing Japan’s Second Olympic Pair Spot
original source: Nikkansports, September 21st, 2025 by Wataru Matsumoto
Yuna Nagaoka (20) and Sumitada Moriguchi (23) won Japan’s second Olympic pair spot for the 2026 Winter Games after finishing third at the final qualification event with a total score of 178.66 points.
Here’s a translation of their comments posted on Nikkansports.
In March, Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara secured the first spot for Japan by winning the World Championships. With Nagaoka and Moriguchi securing the second spot at this event, Japan will, for the first time in Olympic history, send two pairs to the Games.
Nagaoka and Moriguchi entered the free skate in fourth place after scoring 62.68 in the short program. Their free skate earned them 115.98 points, bringing their total to 178.66 and moving them into third place. With only three Olympic pair spots remaining, they managed to clinch the final qualification position by edging into the top three.
Reflecting on their performance, Nagaoka admitted the need for mental fortitude moving forward: “I want to focus on strengthening my mindset and mental toughness.”
Moriguchi echoed her sentiment while outlining their goals for the season: “We need to develop the mentality where we don’t let mistakes linger in our minds. Beyond that, we’ll work on improving the quality of each element. By the end of this season, I want us to confidently perform polished short and free programs as soon as possible.”
As soon as the results confirmed their qualification, the duo broke into tears in the interview area. Nagaoka admitted the immense pressure they had been under: “I was so nervous that I couldn’t even eat properly. I’ve been anxious the entire time, but now that we’ve secured our place in the Olympics, I feel overjoyed and relieved.”
Her partner, Moriguchi, also expressed his relief: “I was constantly battling feelings of fear throughout the event. Right now, my mind is completely blank, but I think I’ll be able to appreciate this even more later.”
Nagaoka and Moriguchi received an outpouring of support following their qualification. Reflecting on the messages they received, Nagaoka shared: “I was so grateful for all the kind words. I took the time to read each one and responded with messages of thanks.”
Moriguchi, meanwhile, celebrated with a can of Japanese beer he brought from home: “I toasted with Sapporo Classic and felt genuinely happy and encouraged by all the congratulatory messages. It was a truly uplifting night.”
Related topics: Sumitada Moriguchi, Yuna Nagaoka
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