From “I can’t imagine competing in a competition” to the miraculous peak of the world championships! Figure skater Sota Yamamoto: “Days of hardship

A competitive life supported by three bolts implanted in his right ankle has added a much-needed title to his career.

At the men’s “Skate Canada,” the second round of the Grand Prix (GP) series of figure skating that concluded on October 28, 23-year-old Kusota Yamamoto (Chukyo University) won his long-sought first GP title.

In March 2004, when he was a junior skater with a promising future, he broke his right ankle on a triple axel (three and a half rotations) jump in practice just before he flew to the World Junior Championships. After undergoing a total of three surgeries, it took her a year and a half to return to competition. It took him six years to reach the top of the podium.

I could never have imagined that I would ever be able to return to competition,” he said. I never imagined that I would be able to get back to this level of competition, or that I would be able to improve. I am glad that I believed in myself and worked hard.”

Each of Yamamoto’s words carried weight as she spoke of her joy.

New Sota.”

This is a phrase that I have often used in interviews this season. Yamamoto, whose smooth skating is armed with “Eagles,” including a slow and deliberate eagle with deep edge down, has been good at harmonizing with slow and majestic music, such as “East of Eden,” “Yesterday” in last season’s SP, and “Piano Concerto No.2” in Free skate.