Kagiyama takes NHK lead in Japan to kick-start Olympic season

Kagiyama Leads NHK Trophy to Open Olympic Season

Japan's Yuma Kagiyama took the lead after the short programme at the NHK Trophy on Friday, marking his first Grand Prix event this season as he prepares for the Winter Olympics.

Performance Highlights

The 22-year-old Kagiyama scored 98.58 in front of his home crowd in Osaka, solidifying his position at the top of the standings despite feeling dissatisfied with his performance.

"I made mistakes on things I couldn't believe," Kagiyama admitted. "I think that's the first time I've ever made a mistake on a spin in competition. It's frustrating to make a mistake on something you can usually do as a matter of course. I'll put this behind me and look to tomorrow."

Key Competitors

Women's Short Programme

Japan's three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto led the women's short programme, continuing her strong form this season.

Outlook for the Olympics

Kagiyama, silver medallist at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, is considered the main rival to double world champion Ilia Malinin for the gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Olympics in February.

"Kagiyama is seen as double world champion Ilia Malinin's biggest rival for gold at the Milan-Cortina Olympics."

The competition remains fierce, with Kagiyama and fellow Japanese skater Shun Sato both aiming to secure their spots for the Grand Prix Final next month in Nagoya.

Yuma Kagiyama’s strong NHK Trophy performance, despite some errors, positions him as a top contender for Olympic gold while building momentum for the upcoming season.

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RFI RFI — 2025-11-07

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