Yuma Kagiyama qualified for the world figure skating championships by winning his first national title Saturday. The 2022 Beijing Olympics silver medalist scored 205.68 points in the free skate to total 297.73 points at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. Kagiyama topped the field in both the short and free programs. Yuma Kagiyama […]
Yuma Kagiyama qualified for the world figure skating championships by winning his first national title Saturday.
The 2022 Beijing Olympics silver medalist scored 205.68 points in the free skate to total 297.73 points at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture.
Kagiyama topped the field in both the short and free programs.
Yuma Kagiyama performs in the men’s free skate at the national figure skating championships on Dec. 21, 2024, at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. (Kyodo)
The 21-year-old joined his father, coach and two-time Olympian Masakazu on the list of national champions. Masakazu won three straight from 1991 to 1993.
Kagiyama dazzled with quad and triple jumps in the free skate.
Yuma Kagiyama lies on the ice after performing his free skate at the national figure skating championships on Dec. 21, 2024, at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture. (Kyodo)
“I was able to come up with a great performance that could make up for my disappointing short program,” said Kagiyama, who is also coached by 2014 Olympic women’s bronze medalist Carolina Kostner of Italy.
“My father was impressed and shed tears for the first time in a while. I see this gold medal as a new start, not a goal. I will try not to make one mistake in the short program as I prepare for the world championships,” Kagiyama said.
Yuma Kagiyama (C) poses with his gold medal after the men’s free skate at the national figure skating championships at Towa Pharmaceutical RACTAB Dome in Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture, on Dec. 21, 2024, alongside silver medalist Rio Nakata (L) and bronze medalist Tatsuya Tsuboi. (Kyodo)
Sixteen-year-old Rio Nakata came in a distant second with 263.99, while Tatsuya Tsuboi climbed to third with 247.31 after placing 14th in the short program.
Both Nakata and Tsuboi finished on the podium for the first time.
Nobunari Oda, 37, who competed at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and will retire at the end of this season, moved up one spot from the short program standings to finish fourth with 234.68.
On the women’s side, three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto will take her lead from Friday’s short program into Sunday’s free skate.
The world championships will be held in March in Boston.
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