“I haven’t landed it cleanly yet, but I want to train seriously and get to the point where I can include it in competitions.” Rion Sumiyoshi works on triple axel
Rion Sumiyoshi, who announced at the end of last year that she would continue her competitive career, claimed victory at the Japan Intercollegiate Ice Sports Championships.
original source: Nikkansports 1th January 2026
Rion Sumiyoshi (22) won her second consecutive title at the Japan Intercollegiate Championships and reaffirmed her commitment to continue competing through the 2030 Olympics, aiming to master the triple axel. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“I’m happy to have achieved the best possible result,” Sumiyoshi told.
Sumiyoshi placed 18th at the Japanese Nationals in December and did not qualify for the Milano-Cortina Olympics in February. On New Year’s Eve, she announced her intention to continue competing for four more years, aiming for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.
Sumiyoshi is the first Japanese woman to land a quadruple toe loop in an ISU-sanctioned event. Looking ahead, she is also working on mastering the triple axel, saying, “I haven’t landed it cleanly yet, but I want to train seriously and get to the point where I can include it in competitions. I think it’s important to add it, so I want to include it in early-season competitions next summer without fear.”
She also shared that she and Rinka Watanabe, who also announced a four-year extension to her career, encouraged each other via LINE, saying, “Let’s do our best.” Sumiyoshi added, “Four years seems long, but I want to give it my all. If I do, I think it will go by in a flash. I want to prepare so thoroughly that I can look back and say the tough results led me to where I am now. I want to achieve results that will make those who support me feel repaid,” she reaffirmed.
Related topics: Rion Sumiyoshi
Another paywalled article said that it’s her coach Okajima who’s urging her to do 3As- “3A, 3A, when are going to restart working on the 3A?”
I’ve seen Rion land a couple of q/2footed 3As during warmup at local competitions in early 23-24 season. Rion’s PCS is finally being rewarded fairly, so with that and the high GOEs on her other non jumping elements scoring around 210 pretty consistently, I’m not so sure if she needs the 3A… she’s turning 23 and I fear for her back injury coming back.