“Watching ‘SEIMEI’ helped me capture the Olympic spirit, and I went into my performance with that image in mind.” Shun Sato on watching a video of Hanyu’s performance before his Olympic free skate
Olympic medalist Shun Sato reflected on his journey, the influence of Yuzuru Hanyu, and his gratitude to his hometown of Sendai and the Tohoku region, vowing to give back through his skating.
original source: sponichi.co.jp dd. 9th March 2026
Shun Sato (22), who won two medals in men’s figure skating at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, appeared via video on the March 8 broadcast of Nippon TV’s “Going! Sports & News.” He spoke about his feelings toward Yuzuru Hanyu and his hometown, the Tohoku region. Here’s a translation of his comments.
Sato, like Hanyu, is from Sendai. “I received so much support from Sendai and so many people, so I think I was able to give back through my performances,” he said.
He started figure skating at age five and could already land triple jumps as an elementary school student. He practiced at the same rink in Sendai as Hanyu and trained hard from a young age. Hanyu once gave him a pendant shaped like a bow and arrow. “I’ve always treasured it. I practiced alongside him, hoping I could become like him someday,” Sato shared.
On March 11, 2011, Sato experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake at age seven. “I remember it happened just after we said goodbye at the end of the school day. The shaking was incredible, and the school building was split in two. Our house was considered half-destroyed.” He spent time evacuating in Tokyo, where his grandmother lived.
“Until then, I took it for granted that I could do things. Experiencing that made me realize that being able to do things isn’t something to take for granted.”
During that time, Hanyu became a source of comfort for him. When Hanyu won gold at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Sato recalled, “I watched it on the rink’s TV, and the whole rink was so excited.” After Hanyu’s second Olympic gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, a parade was held in Sendai. “It made me want to become a skater like Hanyu. That’s when I started aiming for the Olympics myself,” he revealed.
Sato’s admiration for Hanyu, who cares deeply for his hometown, only grew. “Seeing him donate to the rink and support the community made me want to become a skater who can do the same,” he said.
Before his Olympic free skate, Sato watched a video of Hanyu’s “SEIMEI” performance from Pyeongchang. “Watching ‘SEIMEI’ helped me capture the Olympic spirit, and I went into my performance with that image in mind,” he explained.
Fifteen years have passed since the disaster. “It feels both long and short,” he reflected. “I think the experiences from that time still influence me today. I want to always remember my gratitude to my hometown and give back through my skating, aiming to deliver performances that leave a lasting impression,” he said.
Related topics: Olympic Games, Shun Sato, Yuzuru Hanyu
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