Mao Shimada: “To be honest, I was envious, but seeing someone my age succeed at the Olympics made me happy and motivated me to work harder. The next Olympics is the one I can aim for. It’s my goal, so I want to train hard for it.”
Mao Shimada made history with her fourth consecutive World Junior title in Tallinn, overcoming illness and reflecting on her journey and future ambitions.
original source: number.bunshun.jp dd. 11th March 2026 by Akiko Tamura
At the 2026 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Mao Shimada claimed victory in the women’s event. Seventeen-year-old Shimada became the first skater ever to win four consecutive titles, but she revealed after the competition that she had battled a high fever on the night of the short program and competed in challenging physical condition. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Sports Graphic Number Web.
Coach Hamada revealed after the competition, “Until the day before, I was considering having her withdraw because her fever was so high.” Shimada’s temperature spiked to 38.5°C the night after the short program. Shimada explained at the press conference:
“Today, my only goal was to finish my program. I felt dizzy at times, but being able to skate through it led to this four-year achievement, so I’m glad I made it to the end.”
“Yesterday, I really couldn’t get out of bed, so I thought I’d have to withdraw. But when I woke up today, I felt a little better. Still, when I went to morning practice, I couldn’t skate after my second jump during the music run-through. I was really torn.”
Coach Hamada advised that sometimes it takes courage to stop, but Shimada made her own decision to compete.
“There was no time to discuss technical details. I just told her, ‘If you’re going to compete, do it with all your willpower until the end.’”
Shimada said it was Hamada’s words that gave her strength: “My coach told me, ‘If you collapse, I’ll come to help you.’ That made me want to give it my all.”
“These four wins weren’t just about things going well – there were many tough times, too. It’s been a truly valuable experience,” Shimada said.
Mao Shimada missed age eligibility for the Milan Olympics by just four months.
“At the time, I thought, ‘It’s still four years away, and I’m not aiming for the Olympics yet,’ so I didn’t worry much and decided to focus on the next Olympics. Later, when I finished second at Nationals, I honestly felt frustrated,” Shimada admitted.
Meanwhile, Ami Nakai, also 17 but born six months earlier, won bronze at the Milan Olympics.
“To be honest, I was envious, but seeing someone my age succeed at the Olympics made me happy and motivated me to work harder.”
Coach Hamada views the age increase positively: “There’s still so much to learn, so I think it’s good to take each year as a learning experience before becoming a senior. When you truly become an adult woman, having balanced expression and skating skills is important for success at the senior level.”
Shimada has built her strength through years of junior competition, and Hamada has absolute trust in her resilience.
“She still has room to grow in terms of skating size and expression, but she’s very solid. What she does in practice, she can do in competition. In the end, it’s not the most skilled who win, but the strongest. That’s an innate strength she possesses.”
Remaining undefeated for four years brought pressure. “There were times when I worried, ‘What if I lose?’” Shimada admitted.
At this competition, six skaters besides Shimada attempted the triple axel, with three succeeding, including runner-up Hana Bath.
“For the first time, I really felt the pressure of being chased. Competing while constantly being pursued is mentally tough, and I admire those who do it.”
Next season, Shimada will move up to seniors and become the challenger.
“From next season, my winning streak will reset as I become a senior, so I’ll be in a position to challenge others. I want to perform with more freedom and boldness.”
She was aware that this competition marked the start of the next four-year cycle. “Now that the Milan Olympics are over, the next Olympics is the one I can aim for. It’s my goal, and the next four years have already begun, so I want to train hard for it.”
Although she didn’t attempt a quadruple jump this time due to her condition, her success rate is improving. Her focus is on skating with a smile and showing her true self. What does that mean to her? “Challenge. I think what defines me is always continuing to challenge myself, no matter what.”
Related topics: Mao Shimada
Leave a Reply