Sota Yamamoto
Yamamoto at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics
Native name山本 草太
Born (2000-01-10) January 10, 2000
Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan
HometownNagoya, Japan
Height1.72 m (5 ft 7+1⁄2 in)
Figure skating career
CountryJapan Japan
CoachMachiko Yamada
Yuko Hongo
Yukiko Murakami
Skating clubChukyo University
Began skating2006
Medal record
Representing  Japan
Figure skating: Men's singles
Grand Prix Final
Silver medal – second place2022–23 TorinoMen's singles
Winter World University Games
Gold medal – first place2023 Lake PlacidMen's singles
Winter Youth Olympics
Gold medal – first place2016 LillehammerMen's singles
World Junior Championships
Bronze medal – third place2015 TallinnMen's singles
Junior Grand Prix Final
Silver medal – second place2014–15 BarcelonaMen's singles
Bronze medal – third place2015–16 BarcelonaMen's singles

Sōta Yamamoto (山本 草太, Yamamoto Sōta, born 10 January 2000) is a Japanese figure skater. He is the 2022–23 Grand Prix Final silver medalist, a three-time ISU Grand Prix medalist (including gold at the 2023 Skate Canada International), the 2023 World University Games champion, and the 2023–24 Japanese national bronze medalist.

Earlier in his career, he was the 2016 Youth Olympic champion, the 2015 World Junior bronze medalist, a two-time Junior Grand Prix Final medalist (silver in 2014, bronze in 2015), and the 2015–16 Japan junior national champion.

Personal life

Yamamoto was born on January 10, 2000, in Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan.[1] He is currently a student at the School of Sport Sciences at Chukyo University.[2]

Career

Yamamoto started skating when he was five. He is a 3-time Japanese national novice medalist. He was invited to skate in the gala at the 2013 World Team Trophy as the Japanese national novice champion in the same season.

2013–14 season

Yamamoto debuted on the ISU Junior Grand Prix series in 2013–14 season, placing 11th in Riga, Latvia, his sole assignment. At the Japan Championships, he was 5th in the junior competition and 14th at the senior event.

2014–15 season

Yamamoto (right) with teammate Shoma Uno at the 2015 World Junior Championships

During the 2014–15 JGP series, Yamamoto won silver medals in Courchevel, France and Tallinn, Estonia, which qualified him to the 2014–15 JGP Final in Barcelona, Spain. Ranked first in the short program and third in the free skate, he finished second overall, behind Shoma Uno and ahead of Alexander Petrov. Nationally, he was the junior silver medalist, behind Shoma Uno, and finished 6th at the senior event. At the 2015 World Junior Championships, Yamamoto placed 7th in the short program and 3rd in the free skate to win the bronze medal in his first appearance at that competition.

2015–16 season

Competing in the 2015–16 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Yamamoto won the bronze medal in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and gold in Toruń, Poland. These results qualified him for the 2015–16 JGP Final, where he was awarded the bronze medal. He won his first junior national title at the 2015 Japanese Junior Championships.

In February 2016, Yamamoto won the gold medal in the men's singles discipline at the Winter Youth Olympics ahead of Latvia's Deniss Vasiljevs and Russia's Dmitri Aliev. He fractured his right ankle in practice on March 12, causing him to withdraw from the 2016 World Junior Championships in Debrecen.[3]

2017–18 season

After missing the entirety of the 2016–2017 season, Yamamoto returned to competition domestically at the 2017–18 Japan Championships, placing ninth. Venturing out internationally, he placed fifth at the Coupe du Printemps.

2018–19 season

Debuting on the Challenger series, Yamamoto won gold at the 2018 CS Asian Open. He fared less well at his second Challenger, placing ninth at the 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy. Making his Grand Prix debut, Yamamoto was sixth at Japan's 2018 NHK Trophy. Ninth at the Japan Championships, he finished the season with a gold medal at the Challenge Cup.

2019–20 season

Again beginning the season with two Challenger assignments, Yamamoto won the silver medal at the 2019 CS U.S. Classic after placing third in the short program and second in the free skate. the season at the 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy, and led the field after the short program, in which he set a new personal best and landed two quad jumps. He fell four times in the free skate, placing sixth in the segment, but narrowly took the silver medal overall.[4]

2020–21 season

Yamamoto won the gold medal at the domestic Western Sectionals championship, qualifying for a berth to the national championships.[5] Assigned to the 2020 NHK Trophy, he placed eighth.[6] He was ninth at the 2020–21 Japan Championships.

2021–22 season

Yamamoto debuted on the Grand Prix at the 2021 Skate Canada International, finishing in seventh.[7] He was seventh as well at the 2021 NHK Trophy, and said afterwards he felt he was "able to grow a little bit since Skate Canada."[8] Yamamoto finished the fall season with a gold medal at the 2021 CS Warsaw Cup.[9]

At the 2021–22 Japan Championships, Yamamoto finished in eight place.[10] He went on to win the bronze medal at the International Challenge Cup.[9]

2022–23 season

Beginning the season on the Grand Prix, Yamamoto won the short program at the 2022 Grand Prix de France. He was overtaken in the free skate by Frenchman Adam Siao Him Fa, but still scored a new personal best in that segment and won the silver medal, his first Grand Prix podium placement. Yamamoto reflected on his past struggles with injury, saying that it made the moment "special for me, and I know I couldn't have achieved it myself. I have had all the support from my team as well as support from the fans."[11] At his second event, the 2022 NHK Trophy on home ice in Sapporo, Yamamoto again finished first in the short program with a new personal best score of 96.49, ahead of reigning World champion Shoma Uno.[12] He was again overtaken in the free skate, this time by Uno, but won his second silver medal and qualified to the Grand Prix Final for the first time. He said that he was pleased at the prospect of competing together with Uno at the Final.[13][14]

At the Final in Turin, Yamamoto finished second in the short program behind Uno. He assessed that his quad Salchow was "not perfect, but I am happy I was able to skate without any mistakes and going into the free skating, it will be a confidence boost." The segment also saw several other skaters, such as widely-favoured American Ilia Malinin, underperform.[15][16] In the free skate, Yamamoto set a new personal best (on his way to a personal best total score as well), finishing third in the segment behind Uno and Malinin, but remaining second overall. Winning the silver medal, he said he was pleased to have delivered a satisfactory free skate for the first time in the season and to have achieved his goal of making the podium.[17][18]

Yamamoto finished third in the short program at the 2022–23 Japan Championships, but a seventh-place free skate dropped him to fifth overall.[19][20] Despite this, due to the Japan Skating Federation's selection criteria incorporating international results, he was selected as Japan's third man for the 2023 World Championships, which occasioned some controversy due to national silver medalist Koshiro Shimada being passed over.[21]

Named to the Japanese team for the 2023 Winter World University Games in Lake Placid, Yamamoto won the gold medal, finishing more than thirty points ahead of silver medalist Tatsuya Tsuboi.[22] He then won the silver medal at the International Challenge Cup at the end of February.[23] Yamamoto was fifteenth in his World Championship debut on home ice in Saitama.[24]

2023–24 season

Yamamoto began the season at the 2023 CS Autumn Classic International, finishing in fourth place.[9] Moving on to the Grand Prix, he started at the 2023 Skate Canada International. First in the short program despite an underrotated quad jump and a spin error, he was only third in the free skate, but remained in first place overall to claim his first Grand Prix gold medal.[25] At the 2023 Cup of China, he finished in sixth place after struggles in the short program.[26]

At the 2023–24 Japan Championships, Yamamoto finished second in the short program, albeit more then ten points behind segment leader Shoma Uno.[27] In the free skate he came third, and placed third overall, winning the bronze medal and standing on the Japanese national podium for the first time in his senior career. Reflecting on his career, Yamamoto said there "were good times and bad times, and there were really tough days. But I'm glad I did my best even through those times. This is the result I was aiming for, but I want to look even further ahead, set my goals even higher, and grow even more."[28]

Programs

Season Short program Free skating Exhibition
2023–2024
[29][30][31]
2022–2023
[1]
2021–2022
[32]
2020–2021
[33]
2019–2020
[34]
2018–2019
[35]
2017–2018
    2015–2016
    [36][37][38][39]
    2014–2015
    [40]
    2013–2014
    [41]
    2012–2013

    Competitive highlights

    Yamamoto (right) at the 2015–16 Junior Grand Prix Final podium
    Yamamoto (right) at the 2015 World Junior Championships podium
    Yamamoto (left) at the 2014–15 JGP Final podium

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

    2016–17 season to present

    International[9]
    Event 16–17 17–18 18–19 19–20 20–21 21–22 22–23 23–24
    Worlds15th
    Four ContinentsTBD
    GP Final2nd
    GP Cup of China6th
    GP FranceWD2nd
    GP NHK TrophyWD6th6th8th7th2nd
    GP Skate Canada7th1st
    CS Asian Open1st
    CS Autumn Classic4th
    CS FinlandiaWD9th2nd
    CS U.S. Classic2nd
    CS Warsaw Cup1st
    Challenge Cup1st3rd2nd
    Printemps5th
    World University Games1st
    National[42]
    Japan9th9th7th9th8th5th3rd
    Japan Western Sect.5th2nd1st
    Chubu Reg.4th1st1st1st
    Team events
    Japan Open1st T
    2nd P    		1st T
    4th P
    TBD = Assigned; WD = Withdrew
    T = Team result; P = Personal result. Medals awarded for team result only.

    Earlier career

    International: Junior[9]
    Event 09–10 10–11 11–12 12–13 13–14 14–15 15–16
    Junior Worlds3rdWD
    Youth Olympics1st
    JGP Final2nd3rd
    JGP Estonia2nd
    JGP France2nd
    JGP Poland1st
    JGP Latvia11th
    JGP United States3rd
    Printemps1st
    International: Advanced novice
    Asian Trophy2nd2nd
    Triglav Trophy1st1st
    National[42][43]
    Japan14th6th6th
    Japan Junior11th4th5th2nd1st
    Japan Novice5th B1st B2nd A1st A
    Japan Western Sect.3rd J1st J1st J
    Chubu Reg.2nd J1st
    Kinki Reg.2nd A2nd A
    WD = Withdrew
    Levels: A = Novice A; B = Novice B; J = Junior

    Detailed results

    ISU personal best scores in the +5/-5 GOE system [43]
    Segment Type Score Event
    Total TSS274.352022 Grand Prix Final
    Short program TSS96.492022 NHK Trophy
    TES55.462022 NHK Trophy
    PCS41.032022 NHK Trophy
    Free skating TSS179.492022 Grand Prix Final
    TES100.872022 Grand Prix Final
    PCS83.822023 Skate Canada

    Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships. ISU Personal bests highlighted in bold.

    Senior level

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


    TBD
    December 20–24, 2023 2023–24 Japan Championships 2
    94.58    		 3
    192.42    		 3
    287.00
    November 10–12, 2023 2023 Cup of China 8
    75.48    		 5
    170.10    		 6
    245.58
    October 27–29, 2023 2023 Skate Canada International 1
    89.56    		 3
    168.86    		 1
    258.42
    September 14–16, 2023 2023 CS Autumn Classic International 7
    70.39    		 3
    160.84    		 4
    231.23
    2022–23 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    March 20–26, 2023 2023 World Championships 17
    75.48    		 15
    156.91    		 15
    232.39
    February 23–26, 2023 2023 International Challenge Cup 2
    84.72    		 2
    160.89    		 2
    245.61
    January 13–15, 2022 2023 Winter World University Games 1
    101.32    		 1
    173.54    		 1
    274.86
    December 21–25, 2022 2022–23 Japan Championships 3
    86.89    		 7
    158.52    		 5
    245.41
    December 8–11, 2022 2022–23 Grand Prix Final 2
    94.86    		 3
    179.49    		 2
    274.35
    November 18–20, 2022 2022 NHK Trophy 1
    96.49    		 6
    161.36    		 2
    257.85
    November 4–6, 2022 2022 Grand Prix de France 1
    92.42    		 3
    165.48    		 2
    257.90
    2021–22 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    February 24–27, 2022 2022 Challenge Cup 1
    90.25    		 3
    147.51    		 3
    237.76
    December 22–26, 2021 2021–22 Japan Championships 4
    93.79    		 12
    146.39    		 8
    240.18
    November 17–20, 2021 2021 CS Warsaw Cup 1
    91.75    		 3
    155.90    		 1
    247.65
    November 12–14, 2021 2021 NHK Trophy 5
    86.05    		 8
    152.85    		 7
    238.90
    October 29–31, 2021 2021 Skate Canada International 7
    78.78    		 8
    146.96    		 7
    225.74
    October 3, 2021 2021 Japan Open – 4
    156.13    		 1T
    2020–21 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    December 24–27, 2020 2020–21 Japan Championships 9
    82.60    		 6
    134.74    		 9
    217.34
    November 27–29, 2020 2020 NHK Trophy 9
    62.38    		 7
    127.81    		 8
    190.19
    2019–20 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    December 18–22, 2019 2019–20 Japan Championships 13
    68.16    		 7
    152.33    		 7
    220.49
    November 22–24, 2019 2019 NHK Trophy 7
    74.88    		 5
    151.39    		 6
    226.27
    October 11-14, 2019 2019 CS Finlandia Trophy 1
    92.81    		 6
    130.43    		 2
    223.24
    September 17–22, 2019 2019 U.S. Classic 3
    82.88    		 2
    157.23    		 2
    240.11
    2018–19 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    February 21–24, 2019 2019 Challenge Cup 1
    82.24    		 1
    171.63    		 1
    253.87
    December 20ー24, 2018 2018–19 Japan Championships 10
    71.95    		 8
    140.74    		 9
    212.69
    November 9–11, 2018 2018 NHK Trophy 6
    74.98    		 5
    138.42    		 6
    213.40
    October 5–7, 2018 2018 CS Finlandia Trophy 8
    72.16    		 10
    133.63    		 9
    205.79
    August 1–5, 2018 2018 CS Asian Open Trophy 6
    57.92    		 1
    141.00    		 1
    198.92
    2017–18 season
    Date Event SP FS Total
    March 16–18, 2018 2018 Coupe du Printemps 6
    69.04    		 5
    128.77    		 5
    197.81
    December 20–24, 2017 2017–18 Japan Championships 8
    72.88    		 10
    135.39    		 9
    208.27

    Junior level

    Yamamoto at the 2014–15 Junior Grand Prix Final
    2015–16 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    March 14–20, 2016 2016 World Junior Championships Junior WD WD WD
    February 12–21, 2016 2016 Winter Youth Olympics Junior 1
    73.07    		 3
    142.45    		 1
    215.52
    December 24–27, 2015 2015–16 Japan Championships Senior 11
    62.92    		 5
    152.23    		 6
    215.15
    December 9–13, 2015 2015–16 JGP Final Junior 3
    72.85    		 4
    132.46    		 3
    205.31
    November 21–23, 2015 2015–16 Japan Junior Championships Junior 1
    70.42    		 1
    142.98    		 1
    213.40
    September 23–26, 2015 2015 JGP Poland Junior 1
    75.16    		 1
    157.26    		 1
    232.42
    September 2–5, 2015 2015 JGP United States Junior 2
    65.11    		 3
    138.57    		 3
    203.68
    2014–15 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    March 2–8, 2015 2015 World Junior Championships Junior 7
    69.99    		 3
    145.46    		 3
    215.45
    December 26–18, 2014 2014–15 Japan Championships Senior 7
    67.19    		 6
    139.61    		 6
    206.80
    December 10–14, 2014 2014–15 JGP Final Junior 1
    76.14    		 3
    136.98    		 2
    213.12
    November 22–24, 2014 2014–15 Japan Junior Championships Junior 2
    67.81    		 1
    134.69    		 2
    202.50
    September 24–27, 2014 2014 JGP Estonia Junior 2
    66.42    		 2
    136.28    		 2
    202.70
    August 20–23, 2014 2014 JGP France Junior 3
    65.66    		 2
    130.14    		 2
    195.80
    2013–14 season
    Date Event Level SP FS Total
    March 14–16, 2014 2014 Coupe du Printemps Junior 1
    65.24    		 –
    –    		 1
    –
    December 20–23, 2013 2013–14 Japan Championships Senior 11
    65.90    		 19
    104.72    		 14
    170.62
    November 22–24, 2013 2013–14 Japan Junior Championships Junior 3
    62.28    		 10
    103.82    		 5
    166.10
    August 28–31, 2013 2013 JGP Latvia Junior 11
    56.15    		 12
    100.08    		 11
    156.23

    References

    1. 1 2 "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2022/2023". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022.
    2. ↑ "山本草太選手、横井ゆは菜選手 スケート部の結果を学園首脳陣に報告しました". Chukyo University. Chukyo University. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
    3. ↑ "山本が世界ジュニア欠場　練習中に右足首骨折／フィギュア" [Yamamoto fractures right ankle in practice, will miss Junior Worlds] (in Japanese). Sanspo. 10 March 2016. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016.
    4. ↑ Browne, Ken (October 13, 2019). "SHOMA UNO LEADS JAPAN 1-2 IN FINLANDIA TROPHY". Olympic Channel.
    5. ↑ "2020 JAPAN OPEN & NATIONALS UPDATE". International Figure Skating.
    6. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 28, 2020). "Yuma Kagiyama commands men's event; snatches NHK Trophy gold". Golden Skate.
    7. ↑ Slater, Paula (October 30, 2021). "USA's Chen back on track; takes gold at Skate Canada". Golden Skate.
    8. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 13, 2021). "Shoma Uno defends NHK Trophy title". Golden Skate.
    9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Competition Results: Sota YAMAMOTO". International Skating Union.
    10. ↑ Slater, Paula (December 26, 2021). "Yuzuru Hanyu reigns in Saitama". Golden Skate.
    11. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 5, 2022). "Fa captures gold on home ice at Grand Prix de France". Golden Skate.
    12. ↑ "Yamamoto's Short Program sends Japanese crowd home happy at end of first day of NHK Trophy in Sapporo". International Skating Union. November 18, 2022.
    13. ↑ "Uno (JPN) proves he is the one to beat as Free Skating fightback secures Sapporo gold". International Skating Union. November 19, 2022.
    14. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 19, 2022). "Uno defends NHK title again". Golden Skate.
    15. ↑ "World Champion Uno leads Japanese sweep of Men's Short Program". International Skating Union. December 8, 2022.
    16. ↑ Slater, Paula (December 9, 2022). "Uno leads men in Japanese sweep at Grand Prix Final". Golden Skate.
    17. ↑ Slater, Paula (December 11, 2022). "Uno wins first Grand Prix Final gold". Golden Skate.
    18. ↑ "World Champion Uno (JPN) proves his class with ISU Grand Prix Final gold". International Skating Union. December 10, 2022.
    19. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (December 23, 2022). "Shoma Uno Powers to Big Lead in Short Program at Japan Championships". Japan Forward.
    20. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (December 26, 2022). "Shoma Uno Claims Fifth National Title By a Large Margin at Japan Championships". Japan Forward.
    21. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (December 27, 2022). "Shoma Uno is Unhappy with Team Selection Process for World Championships". Japan Forward.
    22. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (January 18, 2023). "Mihara and Yamamoto Lead Japan Medal Rush at the Winter World University Games". Japan Forward.
    23. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (February 27, 2023). "Japan Continues Domination with Medal Bonanza at Challenge Cup". Japan Forward.
    24. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (March 26, 2023). "Shoma Uno Wins Second Straight World Title Despite Free Skate Struggles". Japan Forward.
    25. ↑ Slater, Paula (October 29, 2023). "Sota Yamamoto captures first Grand Prix gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
    26. ↑ Slater, Paula (November 11, 2023). "Siao Him Fa surprises; takes Cup of China gold". Golden Skate. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
    27. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (December 22, 2023). "Shoma Uno Returns to Form with a Smooth Short Program at the Japan Championships". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
    28. ↑ Gallagher, Jack (December 24, 2023). "Shoma Uno Equals Yuzuru Hanyu with Sixth Victory at the Japan Championships". Japan Forward. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
    29. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2023/2024". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023.
    30. ↑ "2023/24 Free Program". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
    31. ↑ Wilson, David. "Short Program 2023/24". Instagram. Instagram. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
    32. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2021/2022". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021.
    33. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2020/2021". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020.
    34. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2019/2020". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019.
    35. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2018/2019". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019.
    36. ↑ Dreams on Ice 2015 (Television production) (in Japanese). Japan: Fuji TV. 22 June 2015.
    37. ↑ フィギュアスケート [Figure Skate TV!] (in Japanese). Japan. 12 July 2015. BS Fuji.
    38. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2015/2016". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 29, 2015.
    39. ↑ Xiong, Wei (August 29, 2015). "Sota Yamamoto sets sights on Junior World title". Golden Skate.
    40. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2014/2015". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on August 20, 2015.
    41. ↑ "Sota YAMAMOTO: 2013/2014". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on June 22, 2014.
    42. 1 2 "山本 草太 / YAMAMOTO Sota" (in Japanese). Japan Skating Federation. Archived from the original on October 4, 2014.
    43. 1 2 "JPN-Sota YAMAMOTO". SkatingScores.

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