Shimada Mao Wins Record 4th World Junior Title | Nakata Risa Claims Japan’s First Back-to-Back Victory
Japan’s Mao Shimada has achieved an unprecedented feat in the world of junior figure skating, securing her fourth consecutive title at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia on . This marks the first time any skater, across all disciplines, has won four consecutive titles at this event.
The victory comes despite Shimada, the Gangwon 2024 Youth Winter Olympic champion, battling illness. She finished with a total score of 208.91, demonstrating remarkable resilience and skill.
Shimada’s performance in the short program was particularly strong, earning her a leading score of 71.90 points. She delivered a lively routine to “Get Happy” and “Sing, Sing, Sing,” successfully landing a double Axel, triple loop and triple Lutz–triple toe combination. All of her spins were graded at level four, with her footwork receiving a level three. She noted feeling pressure and nervousness, even crying, but ultimately maintained her belief in herself.
Despite achieving a season’s best in the short program at the 2025-26 Junior Grand Prix Final, Shimada felt her performance in Tallinn was even better. She attributed this improvement to her ability to overcome pre-competition anxieties, despite limited practice time in the main rink. “I was able to shake things off and brush everything away. I think this contributed to me performing a great short program,” she stated.
The podium wasn’t solely occupied by Japanese skaters. Hana Bath of Australia made history by becoming the first woman from her country to win a medal at the Junior World Championships, securing the silver medal. Japan’s Mayuko Oka took the bronze in her debut at the event, finishing with a score of 197.17.
Shimada’s achievement builds on a string of successes, including a record fourth consecutive win at the Japan Junior Championships in . At that competition, she totaled 201.32 points, surpassing second-place finisher Kaoruko Wada by over 11 points. Despite some struggles with jumps – including a fall on a quadruple toe loop and an under-rotated triple lutz – Shimada’s overall consistency and execution of six clean triples secured her victory.
The Japan Junior Championships win marked Shimada’s fourth consecutive title in that event, surpassing Shizuka Arakawa (1994-96) and Miki Ando (2001-03), who both held the previous record of three consecutive wins. She acknowledged frustration with the jump errors but expressed happiness at achieving the four-peat.
In related news from the championships, Rio Nakata of Japan claimed the men’s title with a score of 220.47, overtaking short program leader Sena Takahashi. Taiga Nishino finished third with 208.49. The competition also saw Middlefield Nakata achieve a first for Japan, securing a second consecutive title in the men’s event.
The success of Japanese skaters at the event highlights the strength of the nation’s figure skating program. Shimada’s transition to the senior level is anticipated with considerable excitement, and she expressed hope for continued support as she embarks on this new chapter in her career. She is a contemporary of Ami Nakai, who finished fourth at the Japan Junior Championships.
Shimada’s consistent performance and dedication to her craft have established her as a dominant force in junior figure skating. Her four consecutive World Junior titles represent a remarkable accomplishment and signal a promising future for this talented athlete.