Shun Sato
Sato at 2019 JGP United States
Native name佐藤 駿
Born (2004-02-06) February 6, 2004
Sendai, Japan
HometownSaitama, Japan
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Figure skating career
Country Japan
CoachKeiko Asano
Tadao Kusaka
Takahito Mura
Skating clubAIM Services , Meiji University
Began skating2009
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Four Continents Championships
Bronze medal – third place2023 Colorado SpringsMen's singles
World Team Trophy
Bronze medal – third place2023 TokyoTeam
Junior Grand Prix Final
Gold medal – first place2019–20 TurinMen's singles

Shun Sato (佐藤 駿, Satō Shun, born February 6, 2004) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2023 Four Continents bronze medalist, 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

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

Early career

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

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

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

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

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

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]

World records and achievements

Junior world record scores

Sato is the former junior world record holder for the free skating and total score.

World records in the junior men's singles free skating and combined total score
No. Date Score Seg. Event Place Note
1 December 7, 2019 177.86 FS 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final Italy Turin Surpassed by Ilia Malinin at the 2022 World Junior Championships
2 255.11 Total

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024
[40]
2022–2023
[41]
2021–2022
[42]
2020–2021
[43]		 Pirates of the Caribbean:
2019–2020
[44]
2018–2019
[45]
2017–2018
[46]

    Competitive highlights

    GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series, JGP: Junior Grand Prix

    2017–18 season to present

    International[11]
    Event 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
    Four Continents3rdTBD
    GP Final4th
    GP Finland2nd2nd
    GP France2nd
    GP NHK Trophy5th
    GP Skate America4th3rd
    GP Wilson Trophy3rd
    CS Asian Open2nd
    CS Finlandia2nd
    World University Games5th
    Bavarian Open1st
    Challenge Cup1st
    International: Junior[11]
    Junior Worlds6thWD
    JGP Final1st
    JGP Croatia3rd
    JGP USA1st
    Challenge Cup1st
    Bavarian Open2nd
    National[11][47]
    Japan Champ.16th12th5th5th7th4th5th
    Japan Junior6th2nd2nd
    Eastern Sect.1st J2nd J3rd J1st1st
    Kanto Reg.1st J2nd
    Tohoku-Hokkaido Reg.2nd J
    Tokyo Reg.4th2nd
    Team events
    World Team Trophy3rd T
    10th P
    Japan Open1st T
    2nd P
    TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
    Levels: J = Junior
    T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team results only.

    Earlier seasons

    International: Advanced novice[48]
    Event 13–14 14–15 15–16 16–17
    Asian Trophy1st
    Bavarian Open3rd
    Gardena Trophy2nd
    National[11]
    Japan Junior15th15th
    Japan Novice1st B1st B1st A1st A
    Tohoku-Hokkaido Reg.1st A1st A
    Levels: A = Novice A; B = Novice B

    Detailed results

    ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE system 
    Segment Type Score Event
    Total TSS264.992021 Internationaux de France
    Short program TSS91.612023 Skate America
    TES50.102023 Skate America
    PCS41.512023 Skate America
    Free skating TSS180.622022 Grand Prix of Espoo
    TES100.512022 Grand Prix Final
    PCS82.892022 Grand Prix of Espoo

    Current personal best scores are highlighted in bold.

    Small medals for short and free programs awarded only at ISU Championships.

    Senior level

    2023–24 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    January 30-February 4, 2024 2024 Four Continents Championships


    TBD
    December 20–24, 2023 2023–24 Japan Championships 5
    89.80    		 6
    183.24    		 5
    273.04
    November 17–19, 2023 2023 Grand Prix of Espoo 2
    90.41    		 1
    182.93    		 2
    273.34
    October 20–22, 2023 2023 Skate America 3
    91.61    		 4
    155.89    		 3
    247.50
    October 4–8, 2023 2023 CS Finlandia Trophy 2
    87.47    		 2
    173.76    		 2
    261.23
    2022–23 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    April 13–16, 2023 2023 World Team Trophy 11
    76.45    		 8
    164.86    		 3T / 10P
    241.31
    February 23–26, 2023 2023 Challenge Cup 1
    95.08    		 1
    167.12    		 1
    262.20
    February 7–12, 2023 2023 Four Continents Championships 6
    80.81    		 3
    178.33    		 3
    259.14
    January 12–22, 2023 2023 Winter World University Games 3
    84.43    		 5
    146.30    		 5
    230.73
    December 21–25, 2022 2022–23 Japan Championships 5
    81.78    		 3
    167.86    		 4
    249.64
    December 8–11, 2022 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 6
    76.62    		 4
    173.54    		 4
    250.16
    November 25–27, 2022 2022 Grand Prix of Espoo 3
    81.59    		 2
    180.62    		 2
    262.21
    November 11–13, 2022 2022 MK John Wilson Trophy 4
    82.68    		 3
    166.35    		 3
    249.03
    2021–22 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    December 22–26, 2021 2021–22 Japan Championships 8
    87.27    		 6
    164.86    		 7
    252.13
    November 19–21, 2021 2021 Internationaux de France 4
    87.82    		 3
    177.17    		 2
    264.99
    October 22–24, 2021 2021 Skate America 5
    80.52    		 4
    166.53    		 4
    247.05
    October 13–17, 2021 2021 CS Asian Open Trophy 2
    90.77    		 2
    165.39    		 2
    256.16
    October 3, 2021 2021 Japan Open – 2
    179.32    		 1T
    2020–21 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    December 24–27, 2020 2020–21 Japan Championships 5
    83.31    		 6
    153.21    		 5
    236.52
    November 27–29, 2020 2020 NHK Trophy 7
    72.04    		 4
    142.71    		 5
    214.75

    Junior level

    2019–20 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    March 2–8, 2020 2020 World Junior Championships Junior 5
    79.30    		 6
    142.32    		 6
    221.62
    February 3–9, 2020 2020 Bavarian Open Senior 1
    82.18    		 1
    160.13    		 1
    242.31
    December 18–22, 2019 2019–20 Japan Championships Senior 3
    82.68    		 6
    163.82    		 5
    246.50
    December 5–8, 2019 2019–20 Junior Grand Prix Final Junior 3
    77.25    		 1
    177.86    		 1
    255.11
    November 15–17, 2019 2019–20 Japan Junior Championships Junior 3
    74.19    		 2
    139.01    		 2
    213.20
    September 25–28, 2019 2019 JGP Croatia Junior 4
    78.41    		 4
    141.28    		 3
    219.69
    August 28–31, 2019 2019 JGP United States Junior 1
    79.19    		 1
    137.93    		 1
    217.12
    2018–19 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    February 21–24, 2019 International Challenge Cup Junior 1
    71.17    		 1
    128.67    		 1
    199.84
    December 20–24, 2018 2018–19 Japan Championships Senior 16
    64.89    		 9
    140.06    		 12
    204.95
    November 23–25, 2018 2018–19 Japan Junior Championships Junior 6
    66.01    		 1
    156.29    		 2
    222.30
    2017–18 season
    January 26–31, 2018 2018 Bavarian Open Junior 1
    63.71    		 3
    119.63    		 2
    183.34
    December 20–24, 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships Senior 20
    57.77    		 16
    127.75    		 6
    185.52
    November 24–26, 2017 2017–18 Japan Junior Championships Junior 11
    59.64    		 6
    120.56    		 6
    180.20

    References

    1. 1 2 "ISU Bios – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union.
    2. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "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. ↑ "ISU Bios 2023/2024 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 12, 2023.
    41. ↑ "ISU Bios 2022/2023 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 17, 2022.
    42. ↑ "ISU Bios 2021/2022 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
    43. ↑ "2020 Dreams on Ice" (in Japanese). TBS. September 13, 2020.
    44. ↑ "ISU Bios 2019/2020 – Men, Shun SATO JPN". isuresults.com. International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 10, 2020.
    45. ↑ "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019.
    46. ↑ "Shun SATO". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 5, 2018.
    47. ↑ "JPN-Shun SATO". SkatingScores.
    48. ↑ "Shun SATO". rinkresults.com.
    49. "ISU World Standings for Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance : Men".
    50. "ISU Judging System – Season Bests Total Scores 2019/2020: Men". International Skating Union. March 6, 2020.
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