“Free skate at the GP Final was the most humiliating moment of the season. A deep crack formed in my heart,” Mone Chiba resolved to “be a new, stronger me” and trained harder than ever before Nationals
Mone Chiba rebounded from past disappointment to finish third at the Japanese Nationals.
original source: Nikkansports 21st. December 2025 by Fujitsuka Daisuke / Hochi News dd. 22d December 2025 by Tomabari Moeka
Mone Chiba (20), who finished third at Nationals secured her first Olympic team spots. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Nikkansports.
After winning bronze at last season’s World Championships, Chiba started this season strong with back-to-back Grand Prix victories. However, things took a turn at the Final, where extreme nerves led to two falls on triple jumps in the free skate. “It was the most humiliating moment of the season. I ended up betraying myself,” she regretted. “A deep crack formed in my heart,” she told. For the next two weeks, she resolved to “be a new, stronger me” and trained harder than ever before.
Coach Mie Hamada said, “She’s serious and hardworking. Rather than telling her to ‘do more,’ I have to tell her, ‘That’s enough, you’ve done what you need to.’” She also instructs Chiba to take one day a week off from skating.
Before her performance on this day, she told herself, “I’m not weak.” She landed the loop and salchow triples that she had failed in the previous event, holding on despite the pressure. “I somehow made it to the end,” she said with a relieved smile.
Although there were minor mistakes in her jumps, she held it together until the end. She paid attention to every detail in her movements and said with a smile, “I did everything I could. It wasn’t perfect, but I’m happy I was able to show that.”
Chiba’s ideal is “not just artistry or just technique (like jumps), but to be an athlete who can embody both.” She is steadily moving closer to that goal.
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