Yuma Kagiyama: “I gained a lot from Nationals, but in the free skate, I wasn’t able to give everything I had. In those high-pressure moments, I realized I’m still not as strong as I want to be.”
Yuma Kagiyama, who secured his second consecutive Olympic spot, expresses excitement and determination as he prepares to lead a new generation of Japanese figure skaters at the Milano-Cortina Games.
original source: Nikkansports 23d. December 2025 / sponichi.co.jp 22nd. December 2025
On the 22nd, the members of Japan’s figure skating team for the Milano-Cortina Olympics responded to interviews in Tokyo, the day after the Japanese Nationals. Here’s a translation of Kagiyama’s comments.
Yuma Kagiyama (22), who won the men’s title at the Japanese Nationals and secured his second consecutive Olympic appearance, smiled as he donned the Japanese national team jersey, saying, “It’s my second time, but it feels so fresh, almost like the first.”
Among the Japanese athletes, only Kaori Sakamoto in the women’s singles and the pair of Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have previous Olympic experience. With many skaters of the same generation on the men’s team, Kagiyama commented, “It feels like a new Japan.”
Reflecting on his first Olympics in Beijing, where he “enjoyed watching the seniors and learning from them,” Kagiyama, who won a silver medal, said, “This time, I think it’s my turn to set an example. I want to hold my head high, carry the responsibility of representing Japan, and do my best.”
Yuma Kagiyama also updated his X (formerly Twitter) account on the 23rd. He posted a message as an image, expressing both his gratitude and his resolve.
“Thank you so much for all the support at Nationals! I gained a lot from the competition, but in the free skate, I wasn’t able to give everything I had, and I’m left with some regrets. In those high-pressure moments, I realized I’m still not as strong as I want to be.”
“And now, I’ve been selected to represent Japan at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics. I will do my best every single day, with no regrets, so I can deliver my best performance. I will definitely overcome myself!”
Kagiyama won his second consecutive men’s title at the Japanese Nationals held on the 19th and 20th, securing his Olympic spot even before the official announcement by the Japan Skating Federation on the night of the 21st. However, after making mistakes on his jumps in the latter half of his free skate, he shed tears of frustration, despite achieving a historic father-son championship with his coach, Masakazu.
Related topics: Yuma Kagiyama
Leave a Reply