“I hope to spend time rediscovering the appeal of figure skating and reflecting on myself, along with new challenges.” Yuma Kagiyama announced that he will take a break from competition next season
Yuma Kagiyama, a two-time Olympic silver medalist, announced on social media that he will take a break from competition next season to pursue new challenges and rediscover his passion for figure skating.
original source: Instagram / Nikkansports 13th April 2026
Yuma Kagiyama (22), who won silver medals in men’s figure skating at both the 2022 Beijing and 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, updated his social media on April 13 to announce that he will be taking a break next season. Here’s a translation.
“World Championships
It’s a bit late, but thank you very much for all your support at the World Championships!
There was a minor accident in the SP, but thanks to everyone’s clapping and cheers, I was able to skate with joy. In the FS, I performed even better than I had hoped, and from the last spin, I could hear the standing ovation, applause, and cheers – it was a dreamlike moment and the best view I could have imagined.
These past few seasons have been filled with frustration and hardships, but I’m glad I was able to finish the season on a positive note. It felt both long and short, but I am grateful to everyone who supported me, those around me, and all the fans who cheered me on.
And, as an announcement, I have decided not to compete in the 2026–27 season and to take a break.
Looking ahead, I hope to spend time rediscovering the appeal of figure skating and reflecting on myself, along with new challenges. I am working on various projects, so I would appreciate it if you could look forward to them.
There will still be ice shows and events, so I look forward to seeing everyone again!”
At the World Championships in March, his last event of the season, he achieved a personal best of 212.87 points in the free skate for the first time in four years, earning his fourth silver medal and reaching the podium in all five competitions he entered. After the event, he commented, “I’m not thinking about four years from now. I want to focus on what I can do, year by year,” indicating he has not committed to participating in the 2030 Winter Olympics.
He also mentioned, “I want to try various things, pursue what I want to do and become, and consider different paths. I’d like to hold classes for children who have never skated before. I want to share the appeal of skating even more and help it grow.” In addition to continuing his research at Chukyo University’s Department of Competitive Sports, he is planning to open skating classes in several cities across Japan.
Related topics: Yuma Kagiyama
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