Mone Chiba: “Honestly, I do feel frustrated to finish in 4th. But the performances of the three skaters on the podium were truly incredible, and I respect them from the bottom of my heart.
Mone Chiba finished her first Olympics in 4th place with a personal best score of 217.88 points, delivering a flawless free skate and cherishing the opportunity to perform on such a prestigious stage.
original source: Hochi News dd. 20 th February 2026
At her first Olympics, Mone Chiba finished with a personal best total of 217.88 points and a 4th place finish at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. She expressed gratitude for the experience and plans to use the lessons learned to further improve at the upcoming World Championships. Here’s a translation of her comments.
“Q: How are you feeling?
Mone Chiba: Being able to perform on the Olympic stage with so much happiness and gratitude, while staying calm and true to myself, was such an amazing experience. I think this is a memory that will really resonate with me in the future and help me grow as a skater.”
Q: You were seen crying as you hugged Sakamoto. Why was that?
Mone Chiba: There were so many emotions all jumbled together. It wasn’t words that came out first – it was the tears.
Q: What were your thoughts when your 4th-place finish was confirmed?
Mone Chiba: Honestly, I do feel frustrated to finish in 4th. But the performances of the three skaters on the podium were truly incredible, and I respect them from the bottom of my heart. It’s hard to describe my feelings. On one hand, there’s the frustration, and on the other, there are both positives and negatives to take away. The only thing I can do now is give it my all at the World Championships.
Q: How did you feel immediately after your free skate?
Mone Chiba: I was so happy to have performed Romeo and Juliet on the Olympic stage. I can’t say that I gave it my absolute best, but I performed the way I usually do. It felt like I couldn’t fully explode and go beyond myself this time.
Q: Do you think there’s more room to push your limits?
Mone Chiba: There were moments when I felt I broke through, but the deductions for a few tight jumps in my triple-triple combination hurt me. Still, I think I maintained good focus throughout the program and skated in a way that truly felt like ‘me.’ I want to take that positive energy and bring it into my competitions after the World Championships.
Q: After today’s competition, do you feel like you want to attempt more difficult elements?
Mone Chiba: For me, that could definitely be a ticket to getting stronger. But I also think there are areas outside of just introducing higher-difficulty elements where I can continue to grow. I want to become the strongest I can, mastering all of my elements.
Q: What were your thoughts while watching Sakamoto’s performance today?
Mone Chiba: I watched her performance with such emotion. I wanted to sear every moment of it into my memory. Watching her made me want to become a skater that no one will ever forget.”
Related topics: Mone Chiba, Olympic Games
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