Yuma Kagiyama added another honor to his growing resume with a victory in men's singles at the FISU Winter World University Games in Turin, Italy, on Saturday, January 18.
The 21-year-old led from wire-to-wire in the competition for university students to win the gold medal over the host nation's Daniel Grassl and South Korea's Jun Hwan Cha.
Kagiyama's winning total score was 289.04. Grassl claimed the silver with 280.56, while Cha picked up the bronze at 264.94.
Shun Sato finished fifth with 248.50, while Sota Yamamoto wound up sixth on 242.23.
Rion Sumiyoshi led a Japan 1-2 finish in the women's event. The 21-year-old from Meiji University won with a total tally of 204.29, while Mone Chiba was second at 203.85. Kazakhstan's Sofia Samodelkina rounded out the podium in third on 190.96, with Hana Yoshida settling for fourth at 187.43.
Kagiyama Boosted Title Chances with a Strong Short Program
Kagiyama skated to "Ameska" and "Romanza" in his free skate. He landed his opening quadruple flip, but fell on a quad salchow, then singled a planned quad lutz. Despite the miscues, the Beijing Olympic medalist was able to hang on for the win with help from his big score in the short program (106.82), landing a big quad toe loop/triple toe loop combination jump and five triples in all.
The young star's spins and step sequence were all judged as level fours.
"This competition is different ― it's so big and it feels almost like a festival," Kagiyama was quoted as saying. "The support here was amazing."
How Sumiyoshi and Chiba Secured Medals at the Winter World University Games
Sumiyoshi competed to a selection of songs from "Adiemus: Song Of Sanctuary" in her free skate and landed six triples on the way to the gold. She under-rotated her quad toe loop and a triple loop, but notched level fours on all of her spins and step sequence.
Chiba, presented again with a chance at a title, was unable to come through under pressure despite leading by more than six points after the short program. She encountered multiple jump issues in her free skate to "Ariana Concerto No 1." The Sendai native fell on a triple lutz and was judged a quarter rotation short on three separate triple jumps.
Chiba, 19, did land four clean triples and registered level fours on all of her jumps and step sequence, but her loss was a surprise in a competition she was favored to win.
Mishin Backs Kagiyama for Gold at the World Championships
Legendary Russia coach Alexei Mishin made some interesting comments about Kagiyama in a recent interview with Russia Today that was translated into English and posted on fs-gossips.com.
In reply to a question about whom he would consider the "most charming" male singles skater now, Mishin commented, "I like Yuma Kagiyama [and] I think he will win this year's world championships. His virtuosic command of the skate will allow him to excel, even without a full repertoire of senior quadruple jumps."
Pretty high praise for Kagiyama coming from the Hall of Fame mentor.
Mishin was asked about Kagiyama's size (160 cm) and if he saw that as a detriment for the Beijing Olympic silver medalist.
"When he skates, I don't see it," Mishin replied. "What truly amazes me is his skating mastery. I'm not trying to judge who's better or worse, just reasoning. In my view, there are athletes whose second score is based, simply put, on interactions with the audience through their eyes, hands, and other movements."
Added Mishin, "Look below — there often lack exits, deep edges, or gliding. But the person skates incredibly brightly. There's another way of skating, based on the interaction of the skate with the ice. With Kagiyama, as with Patrick Chan, Yuzuru Hanyu, this is what I really appreciate."
Matsuike Striving to Improve with Olympics on Horizon
Rino Matsuike provided some insight on the feelings of her renowned coach about her skating in comments to Kyodo News at her Coming of Age Day ceremony that were also posted on fs-gossips.com.
"I've been told by coach Machiko [Yamada] that I lack 'flair,' " Matsuike was quoted as saying. "I have been working hard and practicing, paying attention to my posture and every movement, trying to appear more graceful and striking compared to the past."
Matsuike, who will be a strong contender for a spot on Japan's 2026 Olympic team, is trying not to get ahead of herself.
"When I think that the Olympics are just around the corner, it gets a bit overwhelming," the 20-year-old remarked. "But I believe if I can perform as usual, the results will follow. So, while I'm aware of it, I hope to not focus too much on just the results."
In the same interview, Yamada praised her young skater.
"Though she is not flashy, she has an undeniable elegance," Yamada noted. "While not ostentatious, she has developed a certain charm in her quiet composure."
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Author: Jack Gallagher
The author is a veteran sports journalist and one of the world's foremost figure skating experts. Find articles and podcasts by Jack on his author page, and find him on X (formerly Twitter) @sportsjapan.
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