Figure skaters Uno, Kagiyama practice at Beijing venue for 1st time

The Yomiuri Shimbun

16:19 JST, February 3, 2022

Shoma Uno and Yuma Kagiyama practiced for the first time Thursday at the Capitol Indoor Stadium in Beijing, the venue for the figure skating competition at the Beijing Olympics.

Uno and Kagiyama arrived from Japan the day before, and showed no signs of fatigue as they checked the condition of the rink. Uno, the men’s silver medalist at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, did not jump during the run-through of his short program with music, but after that, he carefully practiced the quadruple toe loop scheduled to appear in his short program.

“I didn’t find it difficult to jump [on the rink],” Uno said in an interview. “I want to make adjustments so that I can perform the moves I’ve practiced, even in a different environment.”

Kagiyama is making his Olympic debut in Beijing. On Thursday, he performed a quadruple salchow while practicing his long program with music, and after that repeatedly attempted a quadruple loop that he intends to perform in competition.

“I really felt that I’m at the Olympics. I was able to move my body in a focused manner [during practice], so I want to compete as soon as possible,” Kagiyama said.

Friday is the first day of the team event. Skaters are scheduled to compete in the men’s short program, the ice dance rhythm dance and the pairs’ short program.

Uno’s coach tests positive

Stephane Lambiel, the coach of Shoma Uno, said Thursday that he had tested positive for the novel coronavirus before leaving Switzerland.

The coach wrote on his Instagram account that he will be “waiting a few more days before traveling to Beijing.”

“I haven’t had any symptoms … I am testing negative now,” Lambiel said.