ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2024: Kagiyama Yuma nears personal best score, leads Sato Shun, Cha Jun-hwan after men's short
The Olympic silver medallist was brilliant as the final skater in the men's short program after strong performances from Sato, Cha and others in the final group in Shanghai. Stellato-Dudek/Deschamps lead in pairs.
Figure Skating
Olympic and world medallist Kagiyama Yuma was just a point off of his career-best short program score to skate into the lead at the 2024 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
The 20-year-old silver medallist at Beijing 2022 continued his season-long comeback from an ankle injury last year, scoring a 106.82 to lead Japanese compatriot Sato Shun, who is second with a 99.20. He hit 108.12 at Beijing on the way to the Olympic podium.
Reigning world silver medallist Cha Jun-hwan of the Republic of Korea rounds out the top three with a 95.30 in what was a quality final group in the men's short program on Thursday evening (1 February) in Shanghai.
Skating last, Kagiyama nailed a quadruple Salchow to open his "Believer" short, then added a quad toe-triple toe followed by an aggressive triple Axel. He was the top-scoring skater in program components, as well (46.94).
Kagiyama pumped his fist on the ice as he finished, then launched his arms in celebration as his scores came through, his father and coach Masakazu Kagiyama next to him in the kiss and cry. New coach Carolina Kostner did not make the trip.
Earlier, Chiba Mone of Japan took the lead after the women's short program. In pairs, Canada's Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps lead with a 69.48, four points ahead of reigning world champs Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi (65.61), who were on competitive ice for the first time since September.
The men's free skate is set for 15:50pm local time (UTC/GMT +8 hours) on Saturday (3 February).
Four Continents: Kagiyama continues comeback season
The strong performance by Kagiyama at Four Continents continues what has been a steady but solid comeback season for him after he missed the majority of the 2022-23 year.
He won his first Grand Prix since 2021 at NHK Trophy in November, then finished runner-up to Uno Shoma at Japanese nationals in December after claiming bronze at the Grand Prix Final.
Sato, who turns 20 next week, had put the pressure on his teammate with a brilliant short of his own, opening with a quad toe-triple toe and then landing the only quad Lutz of the men's short. He added a triple Axel to his "Libertango" short program.
It was the best level fans have seen from the Korean Cha since last year's World Championships, his 95.30 a season's best by nearly 10 points. He and longtime coach Brian Orser ended their partnership during the off-season.
Yamamoto Sota (94.44) and home hope Jin Boyang (89.41) rounded out the top five in what was a strong final group among the men. Recent Canadian champion Wesley Chiu is sixth with a 83.50.