Rio Nakata: “I’ll be moving up to seniors next season… I’ll build my confidence as I go, and if I achieve my goals season by season over the next four years, I think winning a medal at the Olympics- even gold – is possible.”
Rio Nakata made history by winning his second consecutive World Junior title, becoming the first Japanese man to achieve back-to-back victories, and now looks forward to his senior debut.
original source: number.bunshun.jp dd. 10th March 2026 by Akiko Tamura
At the World Junior Championships held in Tallinn, Estonia, Rio Nakata claimed victory, marking a strong showing for Japan. Seventeen-year-old Nakata secured his second consecutive win, making him the first Japanese male skater to achieve back-to-back World Junior titles. Here’s a translation of her comments posted on Sports Graphic Number Web.
After skating a flawless free program, Nakata collapsed onto the ice, exhausted, as the crowd erupted in applause.
“I really gave it my all… I’m tired… I had so many feelings at that moment,” he said, reflecting on his emotions.
Two days earlier, he had also delivered a perfect short program to flamenco music choreographed by Misha Ge, and renowned flamenco dancer Antonio Najarro, who visited Japan, helped refine the program. Nakata commented that it became a memorable and special piece for him.
“I really skated it to the end. It went by so quickly, and I can honestly call it a masterpieces – I performed it so many times. I’m really sad that it’s over,” he said after his performance.
However, Nakata admitted he was more nervous than ever before the short program. “I was really anxious this time, especially with the chance for a second consecutive win… I really didn’t want to lose, and I was so nervous I even cried. But everyone encouraged me, saying ‘You can do it,’ and that was the biggest motivation.”
“It was because I was aiming for two consecutive wins, and I really didn’t want to lose to [Korea’s] Minkyu Seo. All those feelings built up in the morning and made me anxious.”
Nakata also revealed that he had been skating with pain in his left foot since before the season began.
“I knew if I mentioned it, the doctor would stop me, so I kept it to myself until the Grand Prix was over.”
He felt pain even just walking. Later tests showed he had three stress fractures in the metatarsal bones of his left foot. After two Junior Grand Prix events, he took nearly two months off, spending one month skating only on his right foot. During this break, he strengthened his upper body and analyzed his jumps by comparing videos of himself and other skaters.
“Since I couldn’t move up to seniors due to the age limit, this second consecutive win means a lot to me. I was really frustrated when I couldn’t win two consecutive Grand Prix Finals, so achieving this here is very meaningful for me, even if it’s not as big as a senior event.”
As a father and coach, Makoto Nakata, who has watched his son since childhood, told him before the performance, “You’ve jumped these jumps so many times, so trust your instincts and go for it.”
Nakata missed the ISU senior age limit by just two months. Next season, Nakata will finally make his senior debut.
“I’ll be moving up to seniors next season… I think the competitions will be tough, but I’m looking forward to facing many different skaters.”
What are his goals?
“I want to challenge the quad axel next season, and my goal is to win a medal in the Grand Prix series and qualify for the Final. I also aim to win the Japanese Nationals, the Four Continents Championships, and compete at Worlds.”
“I’ve been thinking about seniors all season, trying three difficult quads and taking on new challenges. Winning here gives me a good start for next season as a senior,” said Nakata.
He attended the Milan Olympics in person, and what impressed him most was Team Japan’s teamwork in the team event, as well as the unexpected results in the men’s competition.
“I realized that anything can happen at these events. Everyone performed so well, and it made me want even more to stand there myself in four years.”
Coincidentally, Nakata’s free skate this season, though arranged differently, was to the same “Gladiator” music as the gold-winning pair RikuRyu.
“RikuRyu are amazing, so I feel like I’m nothing compared to them… (laughs). I want to be able to move as powerfully and quickly as they do.”
As a next-generation ace, how confident is he about winning a medal at the Olympics in four years?
“I’ll build my confidence as I go, and if I achieve my goals season by season over the next four years, I think winning a medal – even gold – is possible.”
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