Shun Sato: “I never thought I’d make it to the podium. It feels like a dream. I received a lot of inspiration from Kao, Yuma and Ilia and I’m grateful to them.”
Shun Sato made a remarkable comeback from ninth place after the short program to win the bronze medal in the men’s free skate, fulfilling his long-awaited potential.
original source: sponichi.co.jp dd. 14th February / sponichi.co.jp dd. 14th February
Shun Sato made a dramatic comeback from ninth place after the short program to win the bronze medal in the men’s free skate at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Here’s a translation of his comments.
As the following skaters’ scores did not surpass his, Sato’s medal was secured in a dramatic turnaround. Even the reigning world champion, Ilia Malinin, who skated last, was unable to overtake him, resulting in a surprising outcome. When the results were announced, Sato hugged Kagiyama in joy and shed tears of happiness.
Sato expressed his feelings, saying, “I can’t believe it. I have no words. I never thought I’d make it to the podium.” He added, “I’m glad I kept working hard. It still doesn’t feel real, and even now, it feels like a dream.”
The presence of his teammates Kagiyama and Miura was significant. “I received a lot of inspiration from the two of them, and I’m grateful to them,” he said. He also expressed gratitude to coach Kusaka: “I consulted with my coach from practice onward. I made mistakes in the short program, but I didn’t let it affect me and was able to perform almost flawlessly in the free skate. It was fun,” he reflected.
Four years ago, while the Japanese team shone at the Beijing Olympics, Sato was in the hospital, having surgery on his dislocated left shoulder. He couldn’t skate for three to four months and only resumed jump practice half a year later. “For four years, I did what I could, step by step, and I’m happy to have made it to the stage of my dreams.”
Regarding world champion Malinin’s performance, Sato commented, “I thought it was unusual. He hadn’t made mistakes all season. Even so, it was amazing that he attempted the quadruple axel, and thanks to Malinin, I was able to come this far. I want to keep following in his footsteps.”
Related topics: Olympic Games, Shun Sato
Leave a Reply