ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2023: After week of adversity, reigning champ Uno Shoma delivers in short program
The defending champion had faced jumping difficulties and an injury scare in recent days, but was near to his best on Thursday (23 March). American teenager Ilia Malinin sits second.
Figure Skating
Facing down jumping problems and an ankle injury on the eve of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships, reigning world champion Uno Shoma summoned his best skating on Thursday night (23 March).
The three-time Olympic medallist skated into the lead in the men's short program in front of home fans in Saitama, Japan, putting four points of breathing room between himself and the remainder of the men's field.
American teenager Ilia Malinin scored a career-best 100.38 to be within those four points of Uno, who ticked off a 104.63 short. Two-time Olympian Cha Jun-hwan of the Republic of Korea is third with a 99.64.
It was a sensational evening of men's skating, with five skaters above the 95-point mark and three more scoring above 90. Canada's Keegan Messing (98.75), Kevin Aymoz of France (95.56) and American veteran Jason Brown (94.17) rounded out the top six.
The men's free skate is set for Saturday night (25 March) inside the Saitama Super Arena, with those six skaters making up the final group.
"I left it all out there, I really did," Uno told reporters in Japanese. "It wasn’t the truly perfect program, but because of my condition, I probably wore my emotions on my sleeve more than I usually do. And because of that, I probably felt more joy."
Uno was - for a brief while on Wednesday (22 March) - in question to compete whatsoever, having re-aggravated a right ankle injury that he had been monitoring in training. But the 2022 champion stepped onto Worlds ice full of confidence in front of a lively home crowd, only putting a foot wrong when he doubled the second toe-loop on the back end of his quad toe-triple toe jumping combination.
He pumped his fist in triumph upon finishing, breathing a mega sigh of relief after Malinin had sounded a warning call for the remaining men during his skate in the penultimate group.
"I have no words to describe how I'm feeling right now," Malinin told reporters. "I'm shocked. I'm really satisfied with my performance out there... it was one of the best performances of my career."
Uno Shoma continues shining Worlds for Japan
It's been a sterling first two days of Worlds for the host nation, with Miura Riku and Kihara Ryuichi capturing Japan's first-ever world title in pair skating earlier on Thursday (23 March).
Uno joins fellow reigning world champ and compatriot Sakamoto Kaori as short program leader in singles.
Uno's "Gravity" was skated with his usual smooth movement on the ice, and his opening jump was arguably the most important: The quad flip, which had given him the most trouble this week. He nailed it, receiving 2.99 points on his Grade of Execution.
"I don’t know if I thrive in adversity but I’ve gone through experiences like this before," Uno said of the struggles he had this week. "I’ve practised through pain before. I have a fairly good idea as to what I can do and can’t do when I’m hurt. I managed to make the adjustments... I had to feel my way through tonight."
Malinin posted a program-leading 59.49 technical score, hitting a quad Lutz-triple toe, quad toe and then triple Axel. The 18-year-old, still the only skater to land a quadruple Axel in competition, is set to do the quad Axel in the free skate.
It was a shining night for Cha, too, who had placed fifth at Beijing 2022 last year. The Korean skated to a Michael Jackson medley.
"I feel very happy about my performance today," he said. "I've worked really hard this season. Finally it came out today. I did a clean program, so I'm very satisfied."
Messing, Aymoz, Brown set for final group in free
The top six reads as a who's-who in the men's event, with Messing competing in his final-ever Worlds, the Canadian set to retire at the end of the season.
"To be able to pull out that performance today... it's going to live on in my memory forever," Messing said. "I wasn't feeling nervous; I was feeling free. I [almost felt] too loose. But I maintained a constant level throughout my skate."
It was a resurgent skate for Aymoz, who has struggled to find his best after a series of injuries in the Olympic season.
"I'm reborn again today, after two years of fighting, Covid-injuries... I was completely lost, I thought I was going to give up," Aymoz said. "I told myself, 'You're going to fight.' So I'm really happy to be here again today."
It's Brown's first international event since Beijing 2022, the 28-year-old opting to skate in more shows, including a fist full in Japan. He won the U.S. silver medal in January.
"The shows have helped me be comfortable in front of the Japanese audience," Brown said. "The mentality today was, 'Give them another show performance.' And I think I did that."