Yuma Kagiyama, a promising figure skater, recently held a candid discussion with his father and coach, Masakazu, after a national team competition in Tokyo. As they prepared for the upcoming Olympic season, they reflected on the difficulties of the previous year, where despite winning a bronze medal at the World Championships, Yuma faced challenges in maintaining consistent jump performance. His father acknowledged his own mistake of overly focusing on his son’s rival, Ilia Malinin, which he believes affected Yuma's confidence and technique.

Masakazu expressed regret over encouraging Yuma to emulate Malinin’s high-risk jumping style, noting that their plan failed to account for Yuma’s strengths and personal style. The pressure to match Malinin, a younger skater known for his unique ability to execute all six types of quadruple jumps, inadvertently led to performance struggles. This conversation marks a pivotal moment for Yuma, as he considers shifting his focus back to technique and enjoyment of the sport rather than just competition with his rivals.

Looking forward, both father and son are eager to enter the Beijing Olympics with a renewed strategy that emphasizes Yuma's natural abilities. This change in perspective not only aims to improve Yuma's competitive performance but also to foster a healthier athlete mentality as they approach the prestigious event scheduled for February 2026. The reflections from this father-son dialogue highlight the importance of individualized training approaches in sports, especially in high-pressure scenarios like the Olympics.