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Shun Sato (figure skater)

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Shun Sato
Sato at 2019 JGP United States
Native name佐藤 駿
Born (2004-02-06) February 6, 2004 (age 20)
Sendai, Japan
HometownSaitama
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Figure skating career
Country Japan
DisciplineMen's singles
CoachTadao Kusaka
Keiko Asano
Takahito Mura
Skating clubAIM Services
Meiji University
Began skating2009
Four Continents Championships
Silver medal – second place 2024 Shanghai Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Colorado Springs Singles
World Team Trophy
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Tokyo Team
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place 2019–20 Turin Singles

Shun Sato (佐藤 駿, Satō Shun, born February 6, 2004) is a Japanese figure skater. He is a two-time Four Continents medalist (silver in 2024, bronze in 2023), a 5 time Grand Prix medalist (3 silver, 2 bronze), a two-time ISU Challenger Series medalist (2 silver), and the 2020 Bavarian Open champion. At the junior level, Sato is the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a two-time Japan Junior national silver medalist.

He is the former junior world record holder for the men's free skating and combined total score and is known for his jumping prowess.

Personal life

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Sato was born on February 6, 2004, in Sendai, Japan.[1]

His favorite animals are pandas.[2] Sato's figure skating idol is fellow Sendai native Yuzuru Hanyu, who gave him an amulet when Sato was five years old.[2]

Sato is currently a student at Meiji University, studying at the School of Political Science and Economics.[3]

Career

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Early career

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Sato began skating in 2009.[1] He is a four-time Japanese national novice champion and the 2018–19 Japanese national junior silver medalist. On the junior level, Sato is also the 2018 Bavarian Open silver medalist and the 2019 International Challenge Cup champion.

As the four-time Japanese national novice champion, Sato was invited to skate in the gala at the 2015 NHK Trophy, 2016 NHK Trophy and 2017 World Team Trophy. He was also invited to skate in the gala at the 2019 World Championships as the silver medalist in the 2018 Japanese junior nationals.

2019–2020 season: JGP Final champion

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Sato won the gold medal in his Junior Grand Prix debut at 2019 JGP United States, ahead of reigning JGP Final champion Stephen Gogolev of Canada.[4] He then won bronze at 2019 JGP Croatia. Sato's results qualified him to the 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final. At the JGP Final, he set new junior world records for the free skating and the combined score en route to winning the gold medal, ahead of Russians Andrei Mozalev and Daniil Samsonov.[2] He remarked: "I was surprised that I could win here."[5]

Sato won the silver medal at the 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships, behind Yuma Kagiyama and ahead of Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda.[6] As a result, he was invited to compete in the senior division at the 2019–20 Japan Championships, alongside the rest of the top six finishers in the junior division. Sato placed fifth in the senior event and was named to the team for the 2020 World Junior Championships with Kagiyama and placed sixth there.[7]

2020–2021 season: International senior debut

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Competing domestically, Sato won the silver medal at the Kanto Regional championship and then the gold medal at the Eastern Sectional championship, thus qualifying for a berth at the national championship.[8] Making his Grand Prix debut at the 2020 NHK Trophy, Sato placed fifth.[9] He was fifth as well at the 2020–21 Japan Championships.[10]

2021–2022 season: First Grand Prix medal

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Sato started the season competing at 2021 Japan Open, where he placed second in the men's free program after landing four quadruple jumps for the first time and won the gold medal with his teammates. He was then assigned to participate in the 2021 Asian Open Trophy, which served as a test event for the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he won a silver medal with unofficial personal bests in the short program and total score.[11]

At his first Grand Prix event, 2021 Skate America, Sato dislocated his left acromioclavicular joint on a fall during practice. He thought about withdrawing, but despite severe pain, he decided to compete with the help of painkillers and without changing his planned programs' layout. He placed fifth in the short program and fourth in the free skate and overall.[12][13][14] At this second event, the 2021 Internationaux de France, Sato was fourth in the short program and third in the free skate, taking the silver medal overall, his first on the Grand Prix.[15] Reflecting on his performance, he said that he was "really happy to be on the podium for the first time, but I need to catch up to Yuma, so I will work hard."[16]

At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, Sato finished in seventh place. He was assigned to compete at the 2022 World Junior Championships.[17] He subsequently declined to compete in the World Junior Championships due to his left shoulder injury and was replaced by Lucas Tsuyoshi Honda.[18]

2022–2023 season: Four Continents bronze

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Sato at the 2023 Four Continents Championships

Given two Grand Prix assignments, Sato began the season at the 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy. He was narrowly fourth in the short program, finished third in the free skate, and took the bronze medal. Despite a fall on his quad Lutz attempt in the free skate, he said, "the mistakes I made didn't affect my performance, and I went through until the end. So I'm quite happy about it."[19] At his second event, the 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo, Sato fell on his quad Lutz attempt, finishing third in that segment.[20] Needing at least a second place to qualify for the Grand Prix Final, Sato rallied in the free skate, placing second in that segment and rising to second overall. Celebrating his successful qualification, he said it "always has been a dream of mine, but I couldn't go with the cancellations. I put a lot of effort into trying to make the Grand Prix Final."[21][22]

Competing at the Final in Turin, Sato placed sixth of six skaters in the short program after falling on his opening quad Lutz attempt and performing only a quad-double jump combination.[23][24] He rallied in the free skate, moving up to fourth overall.[25][26] He was fourth as well at the 2022–23 Japan Championships, finishing 1.20 points back of bronze medalist Kazuki Tomono. He was named first alternate for the 2023 World Championships, and assigned to compete at both the 2023 Winter World University Games and the 2023 Four Continents Championships.[27]

Sato was third in the short program at the University Games, but dropped to fifth after the free skate.[28] He was sixth in the short program at the Four Continents Championships after jump errors.[29] A clean free skate, but for an edge call on a triple flip jump, saw him place third in that segment and rise to third overall, taking the bronze medal. Sato noted his change of fortunes, commenting that "last year at this time I was undergoing surgery and right now a year later I won third place at Four Continents." He said that the short program errors that had been plaguing him all season were an area of focus going forward.[30][31] He then won gold at the International Challenge Cup.[32]

With national champion Shoma Uno suffering from an ankle injury and withdrawing from the 2023 World Team Trophy as a result, Sato was named to replace him on Team Japan.[33] In the short program he fell on his quad Lutz attempt and managed only a quad-double jump combination, placing eleventh in the segment.[34] He improved in the free skate, coming eighth, and sharing in Team Japan's bronze medal.[35]

2023–2024 season

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Sato won the silver medal at the 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy, his first competition of the season.[11] He began the Grand Prix at the 2023 Skate America. Despite stepping out of his quad flip attempt in the short program, he broke the 90-point barrier in the segment for the first time (91.61) and finished third in the segment.[36] In the free skate he landed only one of three quads cleanly, coming fourth in the segment, but he remained in third place overall and won the bronze medal.[37] Sato was second in the short program at the 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo, but won the free skate with a new personal best score of 182.93; however, he remained second overall, 1.22 points behind Kao Miura. Sato said he was "happy to give a good performance for my fans and I hope to keep the momentum."[38]

At the 2023–24 Japan Championships, Sato finished fifth, saying he was both "happy and frustrated" with his results at the event.[39] Despite this placement, he was assigned to compete at the 2024 Four Continents Championships in Shanghai, where he came second in the short program with a new personal best score. He performed a quad Lutz as his second jump in the program, a decision he had been uncertain about earlier, and said he was glad to have kept.[40] Sato was third in the free skate, but remained in second place overall, claiming the silver medal.[41]

World records and achievements

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World records in the junior men's singles
Date Segment Score Event Note Ref.
December 7, 2019 Free skating 177.86 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final Surpassed by Ilia Malinin at the 2022 World Junior Championships
Combined total 255.11

Programs

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Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2024-2025
2023–2024
[42]
2022–2023
[43]
2021–2022
[44]
2020–2021
[45] 		Pirates of the Caribbean:
2019–2020
[46]
2018–2019
[47]
2017–2018
[48]

Competitive highlights

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Competition placements at senior level [49]
Season 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
Four Continents Championships 3rd 2nd
Grand Prix Final 4th
Japan Championships 16th 12th 5th 5th 7th 4th 5th
World Team Trophy 3rd
(10th)
GP Cup of China TBD
GP Finland 2nd 2nd
GP France 2nd
GP NHK Trophy 5th
GP Skate America 4th 3rd
GP Skate Canada TBD
GP Wilson Trophy 3rd
CS Asian Open Trophy 2nd
CS Finlandia Trophy 2nd
CS Lombardia Trophy TBD
Bavarian Open 1st
Challenge Cup 1st
Japan Open 1st
(2nd)
World University Games 5th
Competition placements at senior level [49]
Season 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
World Junior Championships 6th
Junior Grand Prix Final 1st
Japan Championships 15th 15th 6th 2nd 2nd
JGP Croatia 3rd
JGP United States 1st
Bavarian Open 2nd
Challenge Cup 1st

Detailed results

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ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE System [50]
Segment Type Score Event
Total TSS 274.59 2024 Four Continents Championships
Short program TSS 99.20 2024 Four Continents Championships
TES 57.45 2024 Four Continents Championships
PCS 41.75 2024 Four Continents Championships
Free skating TSS 182.93 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo
TES 100.61 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo
PCS 83.45 2024 Four Continents Championships
  • Small medals for the short program and free skating are only awarded at ISU Championships.
  • Medals at team events are awarded for the team results only. Individual placements at team events are listed in parentheses.

Senior level

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Results in the 2017–18 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Dec 20–24, 2017 Japan 2017–18 Japan Championships 20 57.77 16 127.75 16 185.52
Results in the 2018–19 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Dec 20–24, 2018 Japan 2018–19 Japan Championships 16 64.89 9 140.06 12 204.95
Results in the 2019–20 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Dec 18–22, 2019 Japan 2019–20 Japan Championships 3 82.68 6 163.82 5 246.50
Feb 3–9, 2020 Germany 2020 Bavarian Open 1 82.18 1 160.13 1 242.31
Results in the 2020–21 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 27–29, 2020 Japan 2020 NHK Trophy 7 72.04 4 142.71 5 214.75
Dec 24–27, 2020 Japan 2020–21 Japan Championships 5 83.31 6 153.21 5 236.52
Results in the 2021–22 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Oct 3, 2021 Japan 2021 Japan Open – – 2 179.32 1 –
Oct 13–17, 2021 China 2021 Asian Open Trophy 2 90.77 2 165.39 2 256.16
Oct 22–24, 2021 United States 2021 Skate America 5 80.52 4 166.53 4 247.05
Nov 19–21, 2021 France 2021 Internationaux de France 4 87.82 3 177.17 2 264.99
Dec 22–26, 2021 Japan 2021–22 Japan Championships 8 87.27 6 164.86 7 252.13
Results in the 2022–23 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 11–13, 2022 United Kingdom 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy 4 82.68 3 166.35 3 249.03
Nov 25–27, 2022 Finland 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo 3 81.59 2 180.62 2 262.21
Dec 8–11, 2022 Italy 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 6 76.62 4 173.54 4 250.16
Dec 21–25, 2022 Japan 2022–23 Japan Championships 5 81.78 3 167.86 4 249.64
Jan 12–22, 2023 United States 2023 Winter World University Games 3 84.43 5 146.30 5 230.73
Feb 7–12, 2023 United States 2023 Four Continents Championships 6 80.81 3 178.33 3 259.14
Feb 23–26, 2023 Netherlands 2023 International Challenge Cup 1 95.08 1 167.12 1 262.20
Apr 13–16, 2023 Japan 2023 World Team Trophy 11 76.45 8 164.86 3 (10) 241.31
Results in the 2023–24 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Oct 4–8, 2023 Finland 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy 2 87.47 2 173.76 2 261.23
Oct 20–22, 2023 United States 2023 Skate America 3 91.61 4 155.89 3 247.50
Nov 17–19, 2023 Finland 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo 2 90.41 1 182.93 2 273.34
Dec 20–24, 2023 Japan 2023–24 Japan Championships 5 89.80 6 183.24 5 273.04
Jan 30 – Feb 4, 2024 China 2024 Four Continents Championships 2 99.20 3 175.39 2 274.59

Junior level

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Results in the 2015–16 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 21–23, 2015 Japan 2015–16 Japan Championships (Junior) 13 50.11 15 93.35 15 143.46
Results in the 2016–17 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 23–25, 2016 Japan 2016–17 Japan Championships (Junior) 7 55.89 16 101.14 15 157.03
Results in the 2017–18 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 24–26, 2017 Japan 2017–18 Japan Championships (Junior) 11 59.64 6 120.56 6 180.20
Jan 26–31, 2018 Germany 2018 Bavarian Open 1 63.71 3 119.63 2 183.34
Results in the 2018–19 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Nov 23–25, 2018 Japan 2018–19 Japan Championships (Junior) 6 66.01 1 156.29 2 222.30
Feb 21–24, 2019 Netherlands 2019 International Challenge Cup 1 71.17 1 128.67 1 199.84
Results in the 2019–20 season [49]
Date Event SP FS Total
P Score P Score P Score
Aug 28–31, 2019 United States 2019 JGP United States 1 79.19 1 137.93 1 217.12
Sep 25–28, 2019 Croatia 2019 JGP Croatia 4 78.41 4 141.28 3 219.69
Nov 15–17, 2019 Japan 2019–20 Japan Championships (Junior) 3 74.19 2 139.01 2 213.20
Dec 5–8, 2019 Italy 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final 3 77.25 1 177.86 1 255.11
Mar 2–8, 2020 Estonia 2020 World Junior Championships 5 79.30 6 142.32 6 221.62

References

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  1. ^ a b "ISU Bios – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union.
  2. ^ a b c Griffiths, Rachel; Jiwani, Rory (December 7, 2019). "Nathan Chen wins epic free skate battle over Yuzuru Hanyu at Grand Prix Final". Olympic Channel.
  3. ^ "スケート部 佐藤駿選手がフィギュアスケート・四大陸選手権で銅メダル獲得". Meiji. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. ^ Gallagher, Jack (September 3, 2019). "Shun Sato stellar in Lake Placid JGP victory". The Japan Times.
  5. ^ Slater, Paula (December 7, 2019). "Japan's Sato stuns at Junior Grand Prix Final; snatches gold". Golden Skate.
  6. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 17, 2019). "Yuma Kagiyama, Mana Kawabe leave rivals in dust to win at Japan Junior Championships". The Japan Times.
  7. ^ Slater, Paula (March 6, 2020). "Andrei Mozalev nabs Junior World title". Golden Skate.
  8. ^ "2020 JAPAN OPEN & NATIONALS UPDATE". International Figure Skating.
  9. ^ Slater, Paula (November 28, 2020). "Yuma Kagiyama commands men's event; snatches NHK Trophy gold". Golden Skate.
  10. ^ Slater, Paula (December 26, 2020). "Yuzuru Hanyu reclaims title at Japanese Nationals". Golden Skate.
  11. ^ a b "Shun SATO: Competition Results". International Skating Union.
  12. ^ "佐藤駿にアクシデント 転倒で左肩強打し練習続けられず 現地報道" [Shun Sato accidentally fell and smashed his left shoulder and couldn't continue practicing.]. nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. October 22, 2021. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  13. ^ "佐藤駿「まだ終わりじゃない」左肩負傷も4位フィニッシュ スケートアメリカ" [Shun Sato "It's not over yet" Left shoulder injury also finished 4th Skate America]. sponichi.co.jp (in Japanese). Sports Nippon (Sponichi Annex). October 24, 2021. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Capellazzi, Gina (25 October 2021). "Vincent Zhou wins his first-ever Skate America title". Figure Skaters Online.
  15. ^ McCarvel, Nick; Goh, Z.K. (November 20, 2021). "Japan's Kagiyama Yuma holds firm for French Grand Prix gold ahead of teammate Sato Shun". International Olympic Committee.
  16. ^ Slater, Paula (November 20, 2021). "Japan's Kagiyama obtains goal at Internationaux de France". Golden Skate.
  17. ^ Slater, Paula (December 26, 2021). "Yuzuru Hanyu reigns in Saitama". Golden Skate.
  18. ^ "佐藤駿が世界ジュニア選手権辞退、左肩故障の影響 本田ルーカス剛史が繰り上がり出場 - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  19. ^ Slater, Paula (November 12, 2022). "Grassl captures Men's gold at MK John Wilson". Golden Skate.
  20. ^ "Aymoz (FRA) leads "Quad God" Malinin (USA) in Men's Short Program". International Skating Union. November 25, 2022.
  21. ^ "Malinin (USA) seizes gold in Espoo and leaps right into Grand Prix Final". International Skating Union. November 26, 2022.
  22. ^ Slater, Paula (November 26, 2022). "Malinin pockets another gold in Espoo". Golden Skate.
  23. ^ Slater, Paula (December 9, 2022). "Uno leads men in Japanese sweep at Grand Prix Final". Golden Skate.
  24. ^ "World Champion Uno leads Japanese sweep of Men's Short Program". International Skating Union. December 8, 2022.
  25. ^ "World Champion Uno (JPN) proves his class with ISU Grand Prix Final gold". International Skating Union. December 10, 2022.
  26. ^ Slater, Paula (December 11, 2022). "Uno wins first Grand Prix Final gold". Golden Skate.
  27. ^ Gallagher, Jack (December 27, 2022). "Shoma Uno is Unhappy with Team Selection Process for World Championships". Japan Forward.
  28. ^ Gallagher, Jack (January 18, 2023). "Mihara and Yamamoto Lead Japan Medal Rush at the Winter World University Games". Japan Forward.
  29. ^ Slater, Paula (February 10, 2023). "Kao Miura takes five-point lead". Golden Skate.
  30. ^ "Miura (JPN) flies high to take gold and electric Messing (CAN) medals at last". International Skating Union. February 11, 2023.
  31. ^ Slater, Paula (February 12, 2023). "Japan's Kao Miura takes Four Continents gold". Golden Skate.
  32. ^ Gallagher, Jack (February 27, 2023). "Japan Continues Domination with Medal Bonanza at Challenge Cup". Japan Forward.
  33. ^ Gallagher, Jack (April 12, 2023). "Japan Skaters Get in Final Tune-Up for World Team Trophy". Japan Forward.
  34. ^ Mitsuoka, Maria-Lauria (April 13, 2023). "Team USA takes lead at World Team Trophy". Golden Skate.
  35. ^ Mitsuoka, Maria-Lauria (April 16, 2023). "Team USA takes fifth World Team Trophy". Golden Skate.
  36. ^ "Ilia Malinin (USA) jumps to lead in Skate America Men's Short Program". International Skating Union. October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  37. ^ Gallagher, Jack (October 24, 2023). "Shun Sato Earns Third-Place Finish at Skate America". Japan Forward. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  38. ^ Gallagher, Jack (November 21, 2023). "Kaori Sakamoto Books Ticket to Grand Prix Final with Win in Finland". Japan Forward. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  39. ^ Di Sanzio, Chloé (December 23, 2023). "Shoma Uno captures sixth national title". Golden Skate. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  40. ^ Gallagher, Jack (February 1, 2024). "Yuma Kagiyama Takes a Commanding Lead After Short Program at Four Continents". Japan Forward. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  41. ^ Odeven, Ed (February 4, 2024). "Yuma Kagiyama Triumphs at the Four Continents". Japan Forward. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  42. ^ "ISU Bios 2023/2024 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023.
  43. ^ "ISU Bios 2022/2023 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022.
  44. ^ "ISU Bios 2021/2022 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
  45. ^ "2020 Dreams on Ice" (in Japanese). TBS. September 13, 2020.
  46. ^ "ISU Bios 2019/2020 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020.
  47. ^ "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019.
  48. ^ "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Shun Sato". SkatingScores.com.
  50. ^ "Personal Bests – Shun Sato". International Skating Union.
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