“No one in Japan has landed it. No one has succeeded at the Olympics either, so I want to be the first.” Rio Nakata on his goal to land quad axel
Rio Nakata who will transition to senior competition in men’s figure skating next season, has shown strong determination to attempt quadruple axel.
original source: Nikkansports 9th March 2026 by Daisuke Fujitsuka
Rio Nakata, who will move up to senior competition next season, expressed his determination to become the first Japanese skater to land a quadruple axel and aims for future Olympic gold. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
On the March 9th, after returning to Haneda Airport from Europe following his historic second consecutive World Junior Championship win – the first ever for a Japanese man – he spoke about the jump, which only reigning world champion Malinin has landed: “No one in Japan has landed it. No one has succeeded at the Olympics either, so I want to be the first.”
Nakata, whose father Makoto is a four-time Japanese Nationals competitor and coach, and whose mother is from the UK, began practicing the quadruple axel in January. “If I can land it, I want to attempt it often in competitions,” he said. He has already mastered four types of quadruple jumps except for the lutz. “If things go well, I think I can land all of them within this year,” he said, aiming for a complete set.
His goals for the new season include winning his first Nationals and making the World Championships team. Although he was not eligible for the Milano-Cortina Olympics in February due to age restrictions, his sights are already set on four years from now. “My goal is Olympic gold. If I can beat myself, the results will follow.” He is especially focused on achieving as many “firsts” as possible. “That’s all there is. That’s what matters.” The bigger the dream, the better.
Related topics: Rio Nakata
Only Japan can do it in men’s and it’s nothing against the other countries in men’s it’s just a fact.
2030 should be fun!