Japan’s Kao Miura takes Junior World title
Japan’s Kao Miura poses with his gold medal at the 2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships.
2023 World Junior Figure Skating Championships
Men’s Free Skate
Japan’s Kao Miura gave two good performances to win the Men’s World Junior title in Calgary, AB, Can., on Saturday night. Naoki Rossi of Switzerland won the silver, while Nozomu Yoshioka of Japan rose four spots to claim the bronze.
Miura gave a brilliant and passionate performance to Beauty and the Beast, reeling off a quad toe, quad Salchow and quad toe-triple toe. The only error made was a step out on a triple loop. The 2023 Four Continents Champion also landed two triple Axels and earned a level four on two of his spins. He scored 179.63 for first place in the free skate, and his total score was 264.74—over 44 points higher than the closest competitor.
“I give myself about 70 percent for my performance,” said the 17-year-old. “I am especially happy about the quad-triple combination in the second half. I think that combination was actually more beautiful than my triple-triple combination in the short. This victory is not my goal, it’s just a start. Next year, I want to participate in the senior Worlds!”
Miura said it was difficult to compare his medals from Junior Worlds and the Four Continents.
“They are all precious to me,” he said. “Last year, I was third at Four Continents and came in aiming to win, so it is a satisfying result. As for this World Junior gold medal, last year I was injured and I was not satisfied with the result. This time, I came here to redeem myself, to get revenge. It is a different kind of satisfaction, but satisfying all the same.”
Rossi had some tight landings, but was determined to stay focused throughout his routine to music by Eternal Eclipse. The 2023 European Youth Olympic Festival junior bronze medalist landed a total of seven triple jumps. The last jump, a triple flip, received an edge call and he doubled a loop earlier in the skate, but was awarded a level four for his flying camel spin. He received many positive GOEs for all three spins, and finished third in the free skate with a new personal best of 141.22. His total score of 220.68 was enough to push him up one spot to second overall.
“I am shocked!” said Rossi in the mixed zone, joking that was going to faint. “It’s incredible, it’s not real! I can’t believe what is happening right now!”
Later, the Italian told the press that he never expected to be on the podium.
“I’m very glad with my performance today,” said Rossi. “I could have done a little better as I popped the loop, but I still focused and never gave up until the end of the program.”
Yoshioka, who stood in seventh after the short program, finished second in the free skate and third overall (141.35 /217.79). However, the 2022-23 Junior Grand Prix (JGP) Final bronze medalist had issues with many of the jumps. He turned out the frontend of his opening quad toe-triple toe, stepped out of a quad toe and put his foot down on a triple Axel. He touched down with his foot again on a triple Axel-Euler-triple Salchow and triple flip. However, his flying sit spin was graded a level four, and the triple loop and triple Lutz-double Axel was clean.
“I didn’t feel many nerves,” said the 19-year-old from Hyogo. “My body was moving well, and I am a bit disappointed as the mistakes could have been avoided. I am happy that I didn’t give up until the end and fought through. That’s what I really improved on this season. Next year, I will move up to seniors , but it was a great experience to compete with the best juniors here.”
Italy’s Nikolaj Memola was off to a good start, landing a triple Axel-Euler-triple Salchow, triple flip and triple loop, but fell on the second triple Axel at the second half of the routine. He appeared tired and and both triple Lutz combination jumps received an edge call. The 2022-23 JGP Final Champion placed fourth in the free skate, and was able to move up two spots to fourth overall (139.72/216.44).
“Today wasn’t my day,” said Memola. “I felt a bit of a heavy chest all day. Despite that, I did Salchow and toe in practice this morning. They weren’t secure enough, so I decided I would not risk it. I am a bit sad because I knew I would have had some opportunities here that I won’t have that easily in seniors. I will keep myself prepared as a substitute for Worlds and World Team Trophy, so I will see what happens, but for now my season is over.”
Wesley Chiu of Canada finished eighth in the free skate (133.32). While he had the fifth highest program component scores in the free skate, small errors in his routine to “Nella Fantasia” were costly. He landed a total of six triple jumps, but doubled and stepped out of a two which received no value. The spins, however, were all graded a level four. He slipped from second to fifth overall (213.88).
“I felt ready,” said Chiu. “It was all nerves! Practices were going well. I am going to work on that. I will maybe do a mix of juniors and seniors again next season. I am working on the quad Lutz in practices, and it’s going well!”
Hyungyeom Kim of South Korea placed sixth overall (213.56), followed by USA’s Lucas Broussard (209.47) Yudong Chen of China (205.12).
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