Home / Sports / Understated Kagiyama Shocks Field, Outshines Malinin
Understated Kagiyama Shocks Field, Outshines Malinin
7 Feb
Summary
- Yuma Kagiyama delivered a stunning 108.67 performance, surpassing Ilia Malinin.
- Kagiyama is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and three-time World Championships silver medalist.
- His father, Masakazu Kagiyama, is a two-time Olympian and national champion.
Yuma Kagiyama delivered a stunning upset in the men's short program, outscoring American favorite Ilia Malinin by over 10 points with a score of 108.67. Malinin, known as the "Quad God," had a solid but less spectacular performance, scoring 98.00.
Kagiyama, a rising star from Japan, is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and a three-time World Championships silver medalist. He has earned admiration for his pristine skating, graceful spins, and precise technique. He comes from a notable skating family, with his father, Masakazu Kagiyama, being a two-time Olympian and a three-time national champion.
At just 22 years old, Kagiyama has already achieved significant milestones since turning professional in 2020. He secured a silver medal at the 2021 World Championships, becoming the youngest podium finisher since Yuzuru Hanyu in 2012. He continued his success with multiple medals in subsequent World Championships and his first Japanese national title in 2024, making him and his father the second father-son duo to achieve this feat.
