Sota Yamamoto | Page 107 | Golden Skate

Sota Yamamoto

Out of curiosity, did you see a video? It's hard to make a judgement from scores only, because the judges have been known for a few years to hand out minuses and low scores even for jumps that look well (when they want to, naturally; they can also conveniently close their eyes and pretend visible stuff didn't happen, but that's never Sota's case, heh)

I'll be honest, I expected more. I admit I was being gullible this time, and truly believed Sota's words in interviews that his jumps are stable. I was wrong. A tripled 4S, a fall on one 3A, UR on both the axel and the 4F. It seems his only stable ultra C jump is the 4T. Better than no stable quad, but I'm still disappointed. He did say that stablity in trainings doesn't automatically translate into stability in competition, that is true. But somehow, I hoped it would make a difference this time that he had months to prepare, without any show distractions. I'm disheartened to see that Sota's preparation seems to have been focused on the 4F, which will never even be fairly scored in his case.

Yeah, a 4F is a great personal milestone to conquer, congrats to Sota - especially when he only learned it as an adult. But if he really believes that this jump will help him win a ticket to the OG if he lands it... nah, I hope he doesn't believe that. It's painfully obvious the judges will be trying to edge him out because a) he's 'too old', b) he tends to bomb big competitions and I bet JSF don't want to risk that on the Olympic stage, and c) they don't need him, they already have their dream trio with much better reputations, both domestically and internationally, which translates into much better overall scores. Hence, he should make it as hard as possible for the judges to bury him on scores... and no better way than skating clean, consistently. I'd say the 4F is counterproductive to that goal.

Just compare the scores for FS (https://www.jsfresults.com/local/2025-2026/fs/22/804/data0105.pdf):
- Kagiyama - takes it easy: solo 4T, solo 4S, axels... High scores for everything , spin levels 4,4,3. Can even afford to double his second half 4T, and still ends up leading by 20 points over Sota! All PCS in 9s, just two in high 8s.
- Sota - exhausts himself on 4F, 4T3T, a tripled 4S, lands axel combo but then I guess fatigue hits, so 3A with a fall - no wonder, it's after several hard jumps and he's always struggled with axels- then 4T in negative GoE, spin levels 3,3(V),4. PCS is low 8s and 7s. One massive a-hole even gave him a 7.00 for skating skills.

So, was it worth it to push himself like that? So much effort, for 255 points overall, which is a good score, but not good enough in Japan? I'm not a skater, but wouldn't it be better to stop obsessing over the 4F, and just save his energy to hit his levels and skate clean? It's sad, but with PCS and GoE being dependent on clean TES for almost everyone, I just don't think it's a good idea for Sota to have 4F in his Olympic strategy. It's clean consistent programs that the judges want from him, that much is obvious. And with such a hard layout, the chances of him going clean are slim, while the risk of long season fatigue is high, as is the risk of injury. My two cents...
 
I haven't seen any videos, no. But, I thought he did very well for this time of the year/off-season. Am I saying this as someone used to seeing Kazuki bomb in summer competitions? Maybe 😂 But Yuma wasn't pristine clean either. That is totally fine, the skaters won't want to peak so early.

I get what Sota is trying to do with the 4F - I actually argued with someone on another site a while ago who was saying it's no longer possible to make the team/podium in figure skating with just 4S and 4T. Of course, Tatsuya proved everyone wrong last season and made the team with just a 4S, but never mind 🙃 That's the mentality and I can't blame Sota for thinking an extra quad will give him political and competitive advantage. But I agree with you he also needs to be mindful of his other elements, and that's super difficult!

In any case, it's just been announced today that Sota has been assigned to Kinoshita Trophy (5-7 September) and Trialeti Cup (8-11 October). It's great that he got two challenger assignments, and quite a big gap between them! It's a shame neither of them are very close to you @surimi but you can still go to Finlandia Trophy!
 
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^ I hope you're right, Kirara! Sota's talkshow is strating in a few minutes and I'll try to hear if he'll mention his strategy (doubtful I'll understand, but I can try).
Anyhow, I wanted to mention that in yesterday's post, but then it got too massive. The scoring is really weird in places. I wonder if they ever mention such things in the after-competition review discussions, if they hold any. Sota's opening 4F got the full GoE scale - 1, 2,3,4 and 5. In negative GoE of course :/ Like, how is it possible for one person to see -1, and another to see -5? And shouldn't -5 e reserved for falls only?

Also, in one interview, Sota mentioned he and his coaches will have to look into the new rules - he doubled his salchow in the 3A combo due to tripling the solo 4S in the first half, and after that first mistake, he wasn't sure he was allowed another 3S. The interesting thing was, he and his team weren't sure even after the comptition. Shouldn't the rules be clearer? I doubt Sota and his team had not learned them properly before the Minato Trophy. I'll try to find that article.
 
surimi said:
^ I hope you're right, Kirara! Sota's talkshow is strating in a few minutes and I'll try to hear if he'll mention his strategy (doubtful I'll understand, but I can try).
Anyhow, I wanted to mention that in yesterday's post, but then it got too massive. The scoring is really weird in places. I wonder if they ever mention such things in the after-competition review discussions, if they hold any. Sota's opening 4F got the full GoE scale - 1, 2,3,4 and 5. In negative GoE of course :/ Like, how is it possible for one person to see -1, and another to see -5? And shouldn't -5 e reserved for falls only?

Also, in one interview, Sota mentioned he and his coaches will have to look into the new rules - he doubled his salchow in the 3A combo due to tripling the solo 4S in the first half, and after that first mistake, he wasn't sure he was allowed another 3S. The interesting thing was, he and his team weren't sure even after the comptition. Shouldn't the rules be clearer? I doubt Sota and his team had not learned them properly before the Minato Trophy. I'll try to find that article.
Click to expand...
At least in Grand Prix, there are after-competition judges meetings, but sometimes I wonder what they can say during these meetings, as they repeat the same "errors" in every competition afterwards. Here's an example, there are meetings before the competition, then after the competition the Technical Panel has meeting and review for each discipline, and the Judges I think, have the Round Table Discussion for each discipline:
 
I found the article, it was Mainichi :

'The men's free skating event of the Nagoya City Skating Competition Minato Acrus Cup was held on the 21st at the Kuniwa Minato Sports & Culture in Nagoya, and Sota Yamamoto (MIXI) came in second place with 160.48 points, for a total of 255.10 points.

Yamamoto's composition included four quadruple jumps. Although he under-rotated some jumps and some were triple jumps, he managed to keep his performance together. The main comments after the performance are as follows.

Looking back on the performance

I feel like I have gained some things but also some issues to address. In terms of my scores, I still am nowhere near where I want to be.

I think I was able to challenge the (quadruple) flip from the very first competition, so that's one piece of data I think. And I don't think it was a mistake I couldn't fix after that.

I think there are a lot of things that can only be felt in a match. I would like to focus on my free practice in preparation for the next Summer Cup (in August).

The quadruple Salchow became a triple

It ended up being 3. In the second half, it was a (triple) Axel (3 1/2 rotation jump) - Euler - Salchow, and although I thought I had calculated it correctly, I thought that if I pushed it with a triple, the final quadruple toe loop would overlap (according to the rules), so I made it a double.

There are opinions on both sides, some of whom say it's possible under the current rules, and others that it was the right thing to do. I'm not yet at the stage where I know the correct answer either.

The combination includes two (triple) Axels and two quadruple toe loops, so I thought that if I made the Euler-Salchow a triple at that point, the quadruple toe loop (that follows) would overlap, so I made the Euler-Salchow a double.

There were some jumps where the rotations were insufficient, so my score didn't improve as much.'

(the rest is paywalled)

**********
Some photos from the Unlim meeting today:


I was only able to understand the simple questions, although Sota talked about the Minato Trophy for a good while. I'll need to wait for the translation. -_- He was also showing his new costume as you can see. I think he was saying the original version came out too jacket-y, so they added the rhinestones. If I were him, I'd just dye the last Dream of Flight costume shirt pale pink, and use it as Hallelujah costume. It's flowy, and he's once said he could imagine himself wearing pink, so no better song for that :]

You're right, @KiraraChin , both of his Challengers are sadly too far for me. ;_; I hope I can go to Finlandia instead :pray: Too bad he wasn't sent to Germany again, he could have competed alongside Kazuki!
 
Sota is 2nd after the SP. Good job, now good luck in the free on Monday! 🤞
Sota made a mistake on the 4S and got 83.72 points. I'm hoping that means he's pacing himself to peak in late autumn and December :pray:
Here's his autotranslated post-SP interview:

The Summer Cup figure skating tournament kicked off on the 9th at the Kinoshita Kansei Ice Arena in Otsu City, with the senior men's short program (SP) taking place. Sota Yamamoto (MIXI) placed second with 83.72 points. The free program will be held on the 11th.

Yamamoto landed the quadruple-triple toe loop combination at the beginning of his performance cleanly. Although he landed the quadruple salchow a little shaky, he performed "Yesterday" with plenty of emotion. The main comments after the performance are as follows:

"It's so much fun to fight so fiercely."​

Looking back on the performance

My body movements were a little stiff, which may have led to a mistake on the (quadruple) Salchow, but I managed to get the other jumps together.

I was able to keep my mistakes to a minimum, but frankly I think I could have been a little more bold.

How have you been preparing for this tournament since the Minato Akurusu Cup (Nagoya) in July?

My free program wasn't going so well, so I focused on practicing it. I made a small mistake in the short program (this time), which was a shame.

I have tomorrow and the day after tomorrow until the free skate, so I hope to be able to show what I've been practicing.

You decided to return to Yesterday, which was performed three or four seasons ago, for the SP. What was the reason?

It's a program I can perform with confidence. It was actually a very good program in terms of its completeness and the impression it left. I think it's a SP I can perform with a lot of confidence.

What feels different from before?

Well, well... but somehow, I'm approaching it with the same feelings. I can perform with a fair amount of confidence. I made a few mistakes today, but I hope to be able to regain my confidence.

Areas in which you feel you have grown since your previous self

It was a little stiff before... [the rest is paywalled]
 
I found a video of Sota's SP:

It's a good program, and I was impressed by the ease of the initial 4-3 combination and the spins. At Sota's age, the spins are especially commendable (y)

Sota could really use more self-confidence exercises methinks. It's just an impression I have watching him skate this SP, but I feel he's nervous and hesitant before the 4S and 3A. He could use a bit less tension and more speed going into them. He spoke about this level of confidence as one of his goals this season, and I hope he gets there.

I have to admit I didn't check the protocols after reading Kirara's post about Kazuki's PCS. And after seeing that Tatsuya scored higher in PCS than Sota did. lol. No doubt there were judges too eager to send some 7's Sota's way, 'cause everyone knows skaters tend to get worse in skating skills and expression as they get more seasoned... 🤡
 
Congrats on Summer Cup silver!
👏
I don't know how I mixed up Kinoshita Trophy with Summer Cup in the OP chart, but it's fixed now.
Well, I certainly hope Sota can deliver a better set of performances at the one that matters more! :) Come on, Sota, these SP and FS scores are all too reminiscent of last year's Nationals, and we all know you can do way better and cleaner. Is the 4F really worth it so much? I mean, even Kagiyama keeps messing it up currently... but he's got the rest, which can't be said of Sota's two anti-faves, 4S and 3A. I think they rattled him so much today that he's got some mistakes on his normally cool 4T and even his super reliable 3F :drama: There's no China GP podium when Tatsuya is overtaking you in the free, no? :cool:

So... with a while yet until Kinoshita Trophy and his out-of-country Challenger, I hope he ditches chasing spectres -the 4F- because as he himself says, it's the results that matter the most this season. He can still make history with his 4F next season! :popcorn: Some serious mind training about how to skate in autopilot mode should be done in the time that he'd save, says this armchair expert. Send him together with Kazuki, and the boys can go to sauna together after each class ♨️
The PCS weren't so bad, it seems. I haven't seen anyone else's but 81 doesn't sound bad considering several mistakes in the program.

A video is already on Twitter, which is great:

Looking forward to checking out everyone in the evening, hopefully Tsuyo will have more links!

Ganbatta, Sota! Now for a better scoring (and hopefully 4F-less) next competition! 🍷
 
A Mainichi article about Sota - and you guessed it, it's paywalled :palmf: :
mainichi.jp

「今はすごく幸せだなって」　山本草太、目標の五輪へと続く道 | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケート男子で、2026年ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピック有力候補の一人でもある山本草太選手（MIXI）が、毎日新聞の取材に応じた。勝負のシーズンへ、ショートプログラム（SP）を3季ぶりに「イエスタデイ」に決めた理由や、フリー「ハレルヤ」で取り組む4回転フリップの手応えなどを語った。
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp
What's visible of it:

"I feel so happy right now" - Sota Yamamoto on the road to his Olympic goal​

Sota Yamamoto (MIXI), a men's figure skater and one of the leading contenders for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, spoke to the Mainichi Shimbun in an interview about why he decided to use "Yesterday" for his short program (SP) for the first time in three seasons, and how he feels about the quadruple flip he will be working on in his free program, "Hallelujah."

Gears that didn't mesh last season (*I think it means 'last season didn't click with him' or something similar)
For Yamamoto, who placed third at the 2011 All Japan Championships and secured his first podium finish, last season was one in which he hoped to make further progress. However, the results were not what he had hoped for, and he placed 10th at the 2012 All Japan Championships. This was his first double-digit ranking since turning senior. What on earth happened?

"I think there were many times when I pushed myself too hard. My ideals were too high, and so the fusion of jumps and expression did not go as well as I had hoped."

Yamamoto began by saying this and continued.

"Last season...
[end of free version]

The accompanying image gallery, with some nice photos of Sota practicing and posing in Chukyo:
mainichi.jp

山本草太　勝負のシーズン　悔いのない日々歩む横顔 ［写真特集4/16］ | 毎日新聞

練習中に水を飲む山本草太選手＝愛知県豊田市の中京大で2025年7月24日、吉田航太撮影
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp

It's getting pretty hard to find meaningful yet non-blocked Sota content these days, agh!

He was hinting in the last Unlim at potentially dropping the 4F, so I really hope that's also what the rest of the article says. His Unlim talkshow was last Monday, and he was saying his MRI scan showed a potential for another stress fracture, making him practice cautiously. As you can imagine, I'm anxious, and more than eager for him to drop that blasted new quad. There's time enough for him to try to impress with it IF and WHEN he survives the Olympic season in good health! :drama:
 
surimi said:
A Mainichi article about Sota - and you guessed it, it's paywalled :palmf: :
mainichi.jp

「今はすごく幸せだなって」　山本草太、目標の五輪へと続く道 | 毎日新聞

フィギュアスケート男子で、2026年ミラノ・コルティナ冬季オリンピック有力候補の一人でもある山本草太選手（MIXI）が、毎日新聞の取材に応じた。勝負のシーズンへ、ショートプログラム（SP）を3季ぶりに「イエスタデイ」に決めた理由や、フリー「ハレルヤ」で取り組む4回転フリップの手応えなどを語った。
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp
What's visible of it:

"I feel so happy right now" - Sota Yamamoto on the road to his Olympic goal​

Sota Yamamoto (MIXI), a men's figure skater and one of the leading contenders for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, spoke to the Mainichi Shimbun in an interview about why he decided to use "Yesterday" for his short program (SP) for the first time in three seasons, and how he feels about the quadruple flip he will be working on in his free program, "Hallelujah."

Gears that didn't mesh last season (*I think it means 'last season didn't click with him' or something similar)
For Yamamoto, who placed third at the 2011 All Japan Championships and secured his first podium finish, last season was one in which he hoped to make further progress. However, the results were not what he had hoped for, and he placed 10th at the 2012 All Japan Championships. This was his first double-digit ranking since turning senior. What on earth happened?

"I think there were many times when I pushed myself too hard. My ideals were too high, and so the fusion of jumps and expression did not go as well as I had hoped."

Yamamoto began by saying this and continued.

"Last season...
[end of free version]

The accompanying image gallery, with some nice photos of Sota practicing and posing in Chukyo:
mainichi.jp

山本草太　勝負のシーズン　悔いのない日々歩む横顔 ［写真特集4/16］ | 毎日新聞

練習中に水を飲む山本草太選手＝愛知県豊田市の中京大で2025年7月24日、吉田航太撮影
mainichi.jp mainichi.jp

It's getting pretty hard to find meaningful yet non-blocked Sota content these days, agh!

He was hinting in the last Unlim at potentially dropping the 4F, so I really hope that's also what the rest of the article says. His Unlim talkshow was last Monday, and he was saying his MRI scan showed a potential for another stress fracture, making him practice cautiously. As you can imagine, I'm anxious, and more than eager for him to drop that blasted new quad. There's time enough for him to try to impress with it IF and WHEN he survives the Olympic season in good health! :drama:
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I hope he'll be in good health! Regarding the years, I've noticed several times a problem with automated translation which retrenched twelve years from the years written in Japanese. Maybe someone understanding Japanese could explain this problem? And why automated translation software don't fix it?
 
I'm on my last days of Mainichi subscription so... 🤫

"Right now, I just feel really happy" – Sota Yamamoto and the Road to His Olympic Dream


By Hitoshi Kurasawa, Sports, Mainichi Shimbun
Published: August 26, 2025, 19:00



Sota Yamamoto, a top contender for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in men's figure skating (MIXI), spoke with the Mainichi Shimbun.
As he heads into a pivotal season, he talked about his decision to return to "Yesterday" for his short program (SP) after three seasons, and the progress he's made with the quadruple flip he's working on in his free skate, "Hallelujah."



Last Season's Misalignment​


After taking 3rd place at the 2023 Japan Nationals and earning his first podium finish, Yamamoto aimed to take an even bigger leap last season. However, things didn’t go as planned. He placed 10th at the 2024 Japan Nationals—his first time finishing in double digits since entering the senior ranks. What went wrong?

“I think I pushed myself too hard in too many ways. My ideals were too high, and I couldn’t quite bring together the elements of jumping and expression the way I wanted.”
Click to expand...

He continued:

“I tried to incorporate the quadruple flip for the first time last season, and I also had both my SP and free choreographed overseas, driven by a desire to grow further in terms of artistry. But trying to develop both at once didn’t go well, and I struggled a lot with that. I felt like my overall condition never quite improved. Maybe that’s why I was mentally a bit unstable throughout the season. I think that showed in my performances.”
Click to expand...


Yamamoto said he strongly felt the challenge of pushing through a season when the mind and body aren’t in sync.

“I was working really hard. But in practices and competitions, I felt this weight… like I was suffering. I think I might have overtrained to the point of burning out.”
Click to expand...


"Yesterday" Returns After Three Seasons​


This season, determined to make a comeback, Yamamoto chose “Yesterday” for his SP—a program he skated in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.

“When I thought about what to choose, ‘Yesterday’ just popped into my head. It’s a program I can perform with real confidence. Three seasons ago, it helped me a lot in the Grand Prix Series and the Final, and I think it helped me grow.”
Click to expand...

At the season’s first event, the Minato Aqurus Cup (Nagoya, July), he felt the program still worked.

“Even after all this time, I could skate it with a lot of confidence. That confidence naturally helps my jumps too, so it’s a very reliable program. I want to fight alongside it as my partner again.”
Click to expand...


New Free Program: “Hallelujah”​


His free skate is choreographed by world-renowned Lori Nichol and set to the gentle tune of “Hallelujah,” a piece that matches Yamamoto’s graceful skating style perfectly.

“The choreo sequence in the middle and the final step sequence really bring out the emotion in the music. I want to express those parts properly. I’ll keep training so I can complete the program fully.”
Click to expand...


Quad Flip Progress – “The Key is Building the Axis”​


Yamamoto also shared his progress on the quadruple flip, a jump he’s been working on since last season:

“I kind of have a feel for landing it. Now I just want to be able to do it consistently like my other quads.”
Click to expand...

He’s also aware of the critical points:

“I often fail during the skating lead-in. Sometimes I don’t have enough speed. I want to find the right pace. Also, when I try to rotate quickly to avoid under-rotating, my hips and shoulders tend to tilt to the right. That causes my body axis to lean and leads to falls. So, creating the right axis is crucial.”
Click to expand...

He explained the technique in more detail:

“With the flip, you take off from the left foot and place the toe pick of the right foot. If your right shoulder drops, it becomes diagonal. With toe loops and salchows, you build your axis slightly to the right, but for the flip, I imagine creating the axis slightly behind to the left, then tightening my body. That works better for me.”
Click to expand...

So far, he hasn't landed the flip successfully in competition this season, at either the Minato Aqurus Cup or the Summer Cup (Shiga, August). But his attitude remains positive:

“I know I could go for safer programs focused on completeness, but I think there’s no future in playing it safe. Even at the Aqurus Cup, I wasn’t landing the flip well in practice, but I didn’t want to hold back. I was able to rediscover the feel in competition, so I’ll keep attacking going forward.”
Click to expand...


“I’m Really Enjoying Myself Right Now”​


Four years ago, he was also a top Olympic hopeful but didn’t make the Beijing team. The four years leading to Beijing and these last four years have been very different.

“The lead-up to Beijing was mostly about trying to recover from injury. I had goals, but I couldn’t turn them into results. It was very frustrating.”
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He added:

“But these past four years, I’ve been able to train the way I want, while facing my own body and mindset. On the senior stage, I finally feel like I’m getting results and performances I’m satisfied with. Thanks to all the support I’ve received, I’ve been able to grow, and I’m truly enjoying skating.”
Click to expand...


This Year’s Written Goal…​


At the end of the interview, as is tradition in these summer interviews, Yamamoto was asked to write down his goal on a paper board. Looking at the boards from the past three years, he picked up a pen and wrote in bold letters:

“To Milan!”
Click to expand...

Holding up the board, he spoke calmly:

“I want to give it my all toward my goal of the Olympics. I’ve spent this season without regrets so far, and I want to show the results of my off-season training. I want to make the flip one of my weapons and perfect my performance as well. I’ll give everything I have as I aim for Milan.”
Click to expand...

Because he knows how much he’s grown in the past four years, his view of the Olympics has also changed:

“Before, it felt like a dream stage. But now, I’m skating with it as a concrete goal. Just being able to skate every day toward that biggest goal… I feel really happy right now.”
Click to expand...

Yamamoto competed at the Olympic test event held at the actual venue this past February. Though he wasn’t among the representatives for the Asian Winter Games or Four Continents, he was selected as the sole male skater from the rest—a selection that felt meaningful.

“Being chosen for that event definitely gave me motivation for the latter half of last season. Skating at the actual venue made me want to go back. I’ll give it my all to make it there again. Whether I make it or not depends entirely on me. I want to treasure each day and do my best.”
Click to expand...

There is a clear path to Milan. And Yamamoto is determined to walk it with strength this season.
 
rabidline said:
I'm on my last days of Mainichi subscription so... 🤫

"Right now, I just feel really happy" – Sota Yamamoto and the Road to His Olympic Dream


By Hitoshi Kurasawa, Sports, Mainichi Shimbun
Published: August 26, 2025, 19:00



Sota Yamamoto, a top contender for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in men's figure skating (MIXI), spoke with the Mainichi Shimbun.
As he heads into a pivotal season, he talked about his decision to return to "Yesterday" for his short program (SP) after three seasons, and the progress he's made with the quadruple flip he's working on in his free skate, "Hallelujah."



Last Season's Misalignment​


After taking 3rd place at the 2023 Japan Nationals and earning his first podium finish, Yamamoto aimed to take an even bigger leap last season. However, things didn’t go as planned. He placed 10th at the 2024 Japan Nationals—his first time finishing in double digits since entering the senior ranks. What went wrong?



He continued:




Yamamoto said he strongly felt the challenge of pushing through a season when the mind and body aren’t in sync.




"Yesterday" Returns After Three Seasons​


This season, determined to make a comeback, Yamamoto chose “Yesterday” for his SP—a program he skated in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.



At the season’s first event, the Minato Aqurus Cup (Nagoya, July), he felt the program still worked.




New Free Program: “Hallelujah”​


His free skate is choreographed by world-renowned Lori Nichol and set to the gentle tune of “Hallelujah,” a piece that matches Yamamoto’s graceful skating style perfectly.




Quad Flip Progress – “The Key is Building the Axis”​


Yamamoto also shared his progress on the quadruple flip, a jump he’s been working on since last season:



He’s also aware of the critical points:



He explained the technique in more detail:



So far, he hasn't landed the flip successfully in competition this season, at either the Minato Aqurus Cup or the Summer Cup (Shiga, August). But his attitude remains positive:




“I’m Really Enjoying Myself Right Now”​


Four years ago, he was also a top Olympic hopeful but didn’t make the Beijing team. The four years leading to Beijing and these last four years have been very different.



He added:




This Year’s Written Goal…​


At the end of the interview, as is tradition in these summer interviews, Yamamoto was asked to write down his goal on a paper board. Looking at the boards from the past three years, he picked up a pen and wrote in bold letters:



Holding up the board, he spoke calmly:



Because he knows how much he’s grown in the past four years, his view of the Olympics has also changed:



Yamamoto competed at the Olympic test event held at the actual venue this past February. Though he wasn’t among the representatives for the Asian Winter Games or Four Continents, he was selected as the sole male skater from the rest—a selection that felt meaningful.



There is a clear path to Milan. And Yamamoto is determined to walk it with strength this season.
Click to expand...

Thank you! ❤️ Much appreciated!

I took a look at the article's date, and the interview seems to have been given before the Summer Cup. That means his talkshow, where he wasn't so sure about the 4F addition anymore, took place well after this interview. I'm hopeful again that Sota's ankles may yet survive this season! :pray:
 
Sota has a new injury 😭


Figure skating: Sota Yamamoto reveals hernia in his lower back and subluxation in his right shoulder. Kinoshita Group Cup begins on the 5th. "I'll check what happens tomorrow."

Figure Skating Challenger Series Kinoshita Group Cup (Opens 5th, Kansai International Airport Ice Arena)

The official practice session was held at the competition venue the day before. Men's skater Sota Yamamoto (MIXI) hinted at the possibility of withdrawing, stating, "I've developed a hernia. I also have a subluxation and am pretty beat up, but I want to prepare for tomorrow, rethink things, and do what I can."

About a week ago during practice, he fell while attempting a quadruple flip and injured his right hip. He's been training while receiving treatment, taking painkillers, and resting, but confessed his worries: "Even after coming here (to the venue), I can only manage doubles (two rotations). Will I have to go cold turkey tomorrow...?" He also mentioned a subluxation in his right shoulder, saying he was battered and bruised. "Personally, I want to compete, but my coach and the federation say the Grand Prix Series is more important. We'll discuss it, see how things look tomorrow, and figure out what to do next," he stated.
 
Yeah, you beat me to it, I just came here to share it. I hope he doesn't hesitate to withdraw. I knew it was a bad decision to pursue the 4F in the Olympic season :cry:
I'm glad that the Georgian Trophy is a month away. I hope Sota takes his time to heal. :pray:
 
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Another take on Sota's status - it's very likely that he'll WD (underlining mine):

Yamamoto Sota's right lumbar hernia has put him out of the running for the Kinoshita Group Cup. He fell during a jump a week ago and injured himself.​

The official practice for the international figure skating competition Challenger Series (CS) "Kinoshita Group Cup" was held on the 4th at the Kansai Airport Ice Arena in Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture, and male skater Sota Yamamoto (25) of MIXI revealed that he is undecided about whether to participate due to a herniated disc in his right lower back.

According to Yamamoto, he fell on a quadruple flip a week ago and hurt his lower back. He is taking painkillers and continuing treatment, and said with a gloomy expression, "I can only jump doubles (two rotations). My condition is not very good. I would like to consult with my doctor and decide (whether I will participate)."

He has been suffering from a subluxation in his right shoulder for several years, and explained, "I would like to compete, but my doctor and the federation don't want me to push myself because there is the GP series. As for my condition, it feels like it's getting worse rather than better."

Although he came in second in the Summer Cup in August, he is faced with a difficult decision as the Olympic season begins in earnest.

****

Just get well soon... 😭
 
surimi said:
Yeah, you beat me to it, I just came here to share it. I hope he doesn't hesitate to withdraw. I knew it was a bad decision to pursue the 4F in the Olympic season :cry:
I'm glad that the Georgian Trophy is a month away. I hope Sota takes his time to heal. :pray:
Click to expand...
I agree, if even the fed is telling him to WD, IMO it's a no-brainer. It's a shame and I understand he must have been looking forward to this competition, but his health should be priority. He still has a challenger before the GP series to warm things up.

For the love of God, Sota, just drop that 4F for good. It's not worth it 😭
 
At least these are injuries that heal well? But I wonder if the shoulder will allow him to pursue the element content he's aiming to. If only scores were awarded after the rules!
 
TBH, I don't have any idea how long herniated discs take to heal, especially for athletes. At least it sounds like it doesn't require a surgery... :pray:

Full Sota quote on DeepEdge Plus:

"I have a slight hernia, so even though I've come here I've only been able to jump doubles. I also have a subluxation (in my right shoulder), so I'm pretty wrecked. Well, I do have the intention to compete, but I've been taking a break today and then tomorrow, then today and tomorrow, and for the past week or so I've been doing that over and over again, so I haven't been getting much better, and the competition is fast approaching, but time doesn't stop, and the competition is fast approaching. It's already tomorrow. I'm feeling like I can do it with determination, but competitions are not that easy, so first of all, after today is over, I'll do what I can, and then prepare for tomorrow. Or rather, I'll think about it again and do what I can."

He looks so sad in the practice photos :cry:

but especially in this one:
https://www.sanspo.com/article/20250904-JOXE7RGVIBJFLMASTXKCTQG3XU/photo/25ZC5BWAJ5NO7GKQXZLQO453OM/

Unrelated to Sota's injury (possibly posted before the announcement was made?), but the company Irene commented on his Kinoshita Cup practice photo, thanking him for the long years of using their gloves :

'Athlete Sota Yamamoto, thank you for using our products since your junior days. Thank you very much'
 
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