Shun Sato: “It may take time, but I want to challenge myself next season and make landing quad axel my primary goal.”
Shun Sato who earned bronze in the men’s singles at his Olympic debut, expressed his intention to attempt the quadruple axel.
original source: Nikkansports 21st February 2026 by Daisuke Fujitsuka
Shun Sato, who won a bronze medal in men’s figure skating at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics, revealed his ambition to challenge the quadruple axel jump in future competitions. Here’s a translation of his comments posted on Nikkansports.
After his performance at the closing Olympic gala show, Sato reiterated his goal to tackle the 4A in upcoming seasons.
“If I’m going to do it, I want to include the 4A in competition,” Sato stated. “It may take time, but I want to challenge myself next season and make landing it my primary goal. I’ve never tried it in practice, and I don’t have a clear image of how it would feel. But since I’ve never attempted it, I feel like I might be able to go for it without pressure.”
The quadruple axel, with a base value of 12.50 points, is the most difficult jump in figure skating. Ilia Malinin made history as the first skater to land it in an international competition in 2022, but his attempt during the men’s free skate final on February 13 fell short, leaving the dream of a successful Olympic 4A unfulfilled. Sato, known for his signature quad lutz (base value of 11.50 points), is determined to take on the challenge. “Next year, I’ll do it for sure,” he emphasized.
Related topics: Shun Sato
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