After challenging practices at Figure Skating Worlds, Uno Shoma gives honest assessment: "I need to know I've done everything I can"
The reigning world champion struggled on Tuesday (21 March) in Saitama, Japan, and then did not parse words to reporters: "I don't feel great about my chances." He was stronger in evening practice, however.
Figure Skating
Reigning world champion Uno Shoma has given a blunt assessment of his training state after two difficult practice sessions at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships.
"I was fine until about two weeks ago but last week it became terrible," the three-time Olympic medallist from Japan said via an interpreter, calling out his jumping woes. "[This season] I’ve been competing like I’ve been practising which is good, but now since I’m not practising well I don’t feel great about my chances here."
Uno, with coach Stephane Lambiel watching along from the boards, had a particularly difficult practice on Tuesday (21 March) afternoon after struggling in practice on Monday, as well. He continuously doubled his attempts on the quadruple flip, facing a similar issue on the quad loop. He fell several times - unusual for a top-level skater at Worlds, albeit the men's favourite.
He continued: "But I’m not down or freaking about it. I have no reason to think I will do well but there’s no point in panicking. I just need to think about what I can do given the situation tonight and tomorrow."
On Tuesday evening Uno had a much stronger practice, which included a clean run-through of his free skate and only a few issues on the quad flip - though the jump is still giving him problems. Lambiel clapped his hand on the boards at times to show encouragement, the two spending the final moments of the session speaking in detail about what had just unfolded.
It was a bounceback of sorts for Uno after earlier in the day.
"I wish I were in good enough form to feel [the pressure at Worlds] I’m that bad," Uno said, an honest assessment of his mental state. "All I can do is focus on the task at hand. I have to make sure I don’t waste all the work I’ve put in up until now by getting overly emotional. Even if I can’t perform as well as I want to, I need to know I’ve done everything I can.
Uno spoke to a throng of Japanese repoters after practice. The sport is closely watched in this country, which counts Uno, Sakamoto Kaori and Mihara Mai (women's singles) and the pairs team of Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi among the gold-medal favourites this week.
Uno Shoma: "I've been tinkering and experimenting"
It should be noted that bad practices are common at major skating events for any athlete, and while they can be a harbinger for how a skater will perform, they are in no way a sure-fire confirmation of that.
The men's singles event is set for Thursday (short program) and Saturday (free skate) (23 & 25 March).
"I usually know what’s wrong but from last week, I’m making the same mistakes over and over," Uno told some 40 Japanese reporters gathered in the Saitama Super Arena. "I’ve been tinkering and experimenting but I don’t get the feeling things are going to change. I’m beginning to think I need to rely on sheer luck or do what I can with what I’ve got."
"I always think I can turn things around in the free skate, but at this rate, I’m not even sure of the free," he added. "I have to go all in from the short [program]. I need to figure out how to execute jumps that I’m only completing at a 20 percent success rate right now."
Uno won the world title in 2022 after capturing the bronze at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022. He was silver medallist at PyeongChang 2018. In 2019, when Worlds were last held in Saitama, he finished fourth.
"I hope everyone stays interested, to see how I come out of this. I don’t know if I’ll be able to enjoy it but I’ll be asking myself some questions throughout this competition, for better or worse."