Kagiyama Yuma to Skip 2026-27 Figure Skating Season for New Challenges
- Yuma Kagiyama, the 22-year-old Japanese figure skater and multiple Olympic silver medalist, has announced that he will take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-27 season.
- The decision follows a high-profile performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Kagiyama earned the individual silver medal.
- Kagiyama shared his decision via social media on April 13, 2026, explaining his desire to step away from the competitive circuit to focus on personal growth and the...
Yuma Kagiyama, the 22-year-old Japanese figure skater and multiple Olympic silver medalist, has announced that he will take a break from competitive figure skating for the 2026-27 season.
The decision follows a high-profile performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where Kagiyama earned the individual silver medal. He finished behind gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan in an event described as one of the biggest upsets in the history of Olympic figure skating.
Kagiyama shared his decision via social media on April 13, 2026, explaining his desire to step away from the competitive circuit to focus on personal growth and the enjoyment of the sport.
Yuma Kagiyama via social media
Looking ahead, I’d like to spend that time rediscovering the appeal of figure skating alongside new challenges, reflecting on myself and taking it all in,
While Kagiyama will not participate in the 2026-27 competitive season, which officially begins in October with the Grand Prix Series, he indicated that he will remain active in the skating community through other avenues.
He noted that he is currently working on various projects and intends to continue appearing in ice shows and other events.
A Consistent Podium Presence
Kagiyama’s break comes after a career defined by remarkable consistency at the highest levels of the sport. He has maintained a record of reaching the podium at every senior international event in which he has competed.
His Olympic pedigree includes individual and team silver medals from both the 2022 and 2026 Games. In 2022, he took individual silver behind American Nathan Chen.
His success extends to the World Championships, where he has secured four silver medals:
- 2021: Silver behind Nathan Chen
- 2022: Silver behind Shoma Uno
- 2024: Silver behind Ilia Malinin
- March 2026: Silver behind Ilia Malinin
This trajectory of success was not without challenges. Kagiyama previously faced a significant setback during the 2022-23 season, where injury forced him to miss nearly the entire year of competition.
Competitive Landscape and Future Outlook
The absence of Kagiyama for the upcoming season leaves a significant void in the Japanese men’s field, though other Japanese skaters have shown strength on the Olympic stage, such as Shun Sato, who climbed from ninth to third to claim bronze at Milano Cortina 2026.
Meanwhile, the global competitive landscape continues to be dominated by Ilia Malinin. The American skater recently secured his third consecutive world title, delivering a performance that would have been sufficient to win gold at the Olympics.
Kagiyama’s decision to step back is framed as a period of rediscovery. By opting out of the Grand Prix Series and other major competitions for the 2026-27 cycle, the skater aims to balance his professional ambitions with a renewed passion for the sport.